Matsumoto Fuko (1840 - 1923)

Fuko was born as the 3rd son of Matsumoto Soan in Kawachi county of Hitachi Province (Now Inashiki City of Ibaraki Prefecture) on September 14 of the 11th year of the Tenpo era.
His real given name was Toshiro.

In 1853, when Fuko was 14 years old, he went to Edo and studied painting under Oki Ichiga, who was an official painter of Tottori Domain.
Ichiga was a painter who studied the Kano, the Rinpa and the Nanpin styles, and was good at expressing flowers & birds in deep colors.
Later, Fuko studied painting under Satake Eikai, who was best pupil of Tani Buncho, and, who was an official painter of Hikone Domain.
In addition, Fuko became a disciple of Kikuchi Yosai who was an official painter of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
Yosai was the leading painter of historical pictures at that time.

After the Meiji Restoration (1868), Fuko participated in establishing the Japan Art Institute (Nihon Bijutsu-In) in 1898.
And he adjudicated the Bunten Exhibitions from the first holding to the 4th.
Fuko was good at painting historical pictures as same as his master Kikuchi Yosai.
Fuko exhibited his works to the 1st Bunten Exhibition, the 4th Naikoku Kangyo Hakurankai Exhibition and others.
In 1919, he became a member of the Imperial Art Academy (Teikoku Bijutsu-In).

Fuko also established his private school "Angado-Gajuku" at home.
He cultivated a lot of famous pupils such as Imamura Shiko, Hayami Gyoshu, Shimazaki Ryuu, Kamoshita Choko, Takahashi Koko, Omoda Seiju, Iwai Shozan, Matsumoto Ryoko (Fuko's 4th son) and Nakajima Kiyoyuki.

Fuko passed away on June 22 of 1923 at the age of 84.