Tosa Mitsuoki (1617 - 1691)

Painter at the former part of the Edo period (1603 - 1868).
The 18th head of the Tosa school.

Mitsuoki was born in Sakai of Izumi Province (=Now Osaka Prefecture) as a son of Tosa Mitsunori.

The successive heads of the Tosa school used to become the heads of the court painting bureau (Edokoro Azukari), however, since Tosa Mitsumoto was killed in battle in 1569, the position was superseded by painters of the Kano school.

In 1634, Mitsuoki left Sakai for Kyoto with his father to retrieve the position.
He made many drawings in Kyoto, and finally retrieved the position of the head of the court painting bureau at the age of 38 in 1654.
In 1681, he was ordained as Hokkyo rank.
In 1685, he was ordained as Hogen rank.
In 1691, he died in Kyoto at the age of 75.
He was buried in the Chion-Ji Temple.