Background
Takamura Koun was born on March 8, 1852 in Nakajima, Toyama, Japan.
光雲 高村
Takamura Koun was born on March 8, 1852 in Nakajima, Toyama, Japan.
Koun Takamura studied under Toun Takamura, the famous engraver of Buddhist images, and achieved fame when his engraving of Byakui Kannon (Goddess of Mercy) won the first prize in an art exhibition (1877).
After this he studied casting and wax molding (1880) and was commissioned to engrave the transoms of the Imperial Palace (1887-1888).
Koun Takamura became professor of Tokyo Academy of Fine Arts (1889), Court artist, a member of the committee for preservation of old shrines and temples and nominated member of Imperial Fine Arts Association (1919).
He created the bronze statue of Saigō Takamori, completed in 1898, which stands in Ueno Park in Tokyo. He is also the author of the statue of Kusunoki Masahide which stands in front of the Tokyo Imperial Palace.
(Japanese Edition)