Bairei Kono, Lablab Bean and Japanese Crested Ibis, Bird and Flower Print

Bairei Kono, ukiyo-e artist (Japanese woodblock print), also known as Bairei Yasuda, was born in Kyoto and spent his life as a painter, book illustrator, and art teacher. He is famous for woodblock prints, especially the Kacho-ga (images of birds and flowers), as well as Japanese style paintings. In his youth, he studied under Raisho Nakajima of the Maruyama school and then, with the master's permission, went on to apprentice with Bunrin Shiokawa of the Shijo school, both schools were leading the Kyoto art scene during that period. The most notable feature of Bairei's style incorporates the Western influences of realism, along with traditional techniques of the Maruyama-Shijo school.

He was well-known as an educator, being a key figure in establishing the first modern art institution, currently called Kyoto City University of Arts. He had made a significant contribution to building the foundation of the contemporary art scene. His students include Kikuchi Hobun, Taniguchi Kokyo, Takeuchi Seiho, and Tsuji Kako, who went on to become established artists.

幸野楳嶺（こうのばいれい）

楳嶺は、京都に生まれ、日本画家、挿絵画家、教育者として一生を過ごしました。9歳のころから約二十年間円山派の中島来章に師事し、その後四条派の塩川文林の下で学び、近代にいたるまで京都画壇に影響を与えた円山四条派を受け継いでいきます。その特徴でもある写実的な表現でよく知られる楳嶺ですが、幕末から明治時代にかけて、多くの花鳥画を残しています。代表作には『楳嶺花鳥画譜』『楳嶺百鳥画譜』などがあります。彼は熱心な教育者としても有名で、久保田米僊や望月玉泉らと共に日本初の近代的な美術学校である京都府画学校（現京都市立芸術大学）の設立に関わるなど、京都画壇史に多大な功績を残しました。幸野私塾を開き後進者の教育にも力を入れ、その門下生には楳嶺四天王として知られる菊池芳文、谷口香嶠、竹内栖鳳、都路華香らがいます。