Suite of five paintings, Japan, Tosa school, late Momoyama/early Edo period, 16th-17th century Mineral pigments and Indian ink on paper, with gold highlights. Mounted on a gold leaf base. Wooden frames. This suite of five paintings illustrates several narrative episodes from the legend of Taishōkan-zu, identified with the figure of Fujiwara no Kamatari, Emperor's minister in the 7th century and founder of the Fujiwara clan, whose influence was decisive during the Heian period. The legend is attested as early as the 16th century, notably in sources attributed to Kowakamai, where it gave rise to performances combining sung recitation and dance. The scenes are treated in a continuous narrative style, with a wealth of architectural and clothing details. The compositions alternate views of palaces, processions, ceremonial scenes and warlike episodes, set against watery and mountainous landscapes. Gold highlights, characteristic of the Tosa school, underline certain architectural elements, costumes and accessories, reinforcing the visual hierarchy and prestigious character of the narrative. The precise drawing, the finesse of the figures, the codification of court costumes and the structuring of space according to successive planes are typical of the Tosa school, which specialized in narrative painting (yamato-e) with historical or literary subjects. 107.8 x 53.5 cm (each) Provenance : Galerie Jacques Barrère. In the opinion of Yujiro Ochi, former curator of the Shizuoka Prefectural Museum of Art and a specialist in Momoyama screens, these works can be dated to the late 16th century.