Written in the hand of Hokuyō Homma
1853
Tangible Cultural Property, designated by Sakata city
Donated by the Homma family
Hokuyō Homma (1822–68), also known as Gunbei, was a scholar of Western Studies during the late Edo period, and a student of the famed ukiyo-e artist Hokusai.
This painting was made on the 10th of July 1853, shortly after Commodore Matthew Perry’s fleet from Washington entered the port of Uraga at the entrance to Edo Bay. The preliminary sketch was done in Uraga, and the painting was completed after returning to Edo. Although there are many paintings and prints depicting this historic event, this drawing is the only one to realistically observe and depict Perry’s fleet on its first arrival at Uraga.