Rare Japanese painting gifted to MNH

A rare painting which highlights the strong trade links between the Island and the Far East is now in possession of Manx National Heritage.

The oil painting is of the wife of Captain John Karran who was part of the Castletown family which owned the famous Karran Fleet.

Karran vessels traded all over the world at the end of the 19th century and it’s understood the portrait was painted in Japan from a photograph carried on one of the vessels.

Curators were able to determine that it was painted by Jirokichi Kasagi and contacted his 65 year old grandson Hidefumi to let him know of the discovery.

Kasagi’s work is highly regarded and is collected in Europe.

Manx National Heritage is hopeful the painting will go on display in the near future after some conservation work.