Japanese oil painter Yonezo Shibata dies at 79
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KYOTO (AFP) - Japanese oil painter Yonezo Shibata, most famous for his
work with imaginary and elegant atmospheres, died early Monday of
stomach cancer at his home in Kyoto, his family told Kyodo news agency
Thursday. He was 79.
Born in Kyoto, Shibata apprenticed under the late Kunitaro Suda, one of
the representative oil painters in modern Japan, and became a member of
Japan's Dokuritsu Bijutsu Kyokai (the Independent Art Association) in
1958.
Shibata received the Japan Art Academy Award in March 1994 for his work
depicting composers including Franz Liszt and Johannes Brahms, titled
"Gakusei Sanka" (Homage to Musical Saints), the news agency said.
Shibata is famous for his unique style of combining realistic images
with imaginary and elegant atmospheres.
Shibata had travelled to Europe and Central and South America almost
every year since the 1960s, and depicted in his work the joys and
sadness of the people encountered in his journeys.
In his later years, Shibata's themes centered on Spanish architect
Antonio Gaudi, Czech composer Antonin Dvorak and other artists whom he
said he adored.