Saru Gallery
       Japanese Prints & Japanese Paintings

Biography Gantai, Kishi 岸岱 佐伯 (1782 - 1865)

Kishi Gantai was the son of Kishi Ganku. He was born in Kyoto in 1782. He was trained in his father’s studio together with Kishi Renzan, Yokoyama Kazan, Minwa Bumpō and Shōdō. Together they were the second generation of the famous Kishi school.
Like his father Gantai was awarded court rank, and they collaborated in the execution of several official commissions.
Where Kishi Ganku’s style is strongly influenced by the traditional style of the Chinese painter Nanpin, the second generation was more open to modern influences. Gantai’s work starts off in the Ganku style and gains in freedom, softness and quality in the artistic communication with the Shijō school, which developed at the same time.
After Ganku’s death he was the leader of the Kishi school, together with his brother-in-law Kishi Renzan.
His best-know subjects are landscapes, kacho-e and animals, especially tigers. He died in 1865.