Edoardo Chiossone
Edoardo Chiossone was an Italian prints artist known for his famous portraits of the Meiji Emperor and designs for Japan's first nationally-issued paper currency, among other works.
Chiossone was hired by the Meiji government to design bank notes for the new national government. He designed items ranging from national bank notes in 1877 to 100 yen bills released in 1891.[1] He also trained Japanese carvers to help produce the printing blocks for the bills, and after he left the Printing Bureau, his disciples took over the work of designing and carving blocks for new bills.[1]
A photograph of a 1888 drawing of the Meiji Emperor by Chiossone, based on an in-person meeting with the emperor, quickly became the most widely reproduced and distributed imperial portrait of the time.[2] He is also known for portraits of Saigô Takamori, Sanjô Sanetomi, Ôkubo Toshimichi, Kido Takayoshi, and Iwakura Tomomi.[1]
Chiossone is also known for recommending that the Meiji government perform surveys of historical sites, ancient monuments, and artistic treasures.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Gallery labels, National Archives of Japan.[https://www.flickr.com/photos/toranosuke/54292863327/sizes/o/
- ↑ Takashi Fujitani, Splendid Monarchy, UC Press (1998), 173-178.
