Kanō Masanobu

He was the chief painter of the Ashikaga shogunate and is generally considered the founder of the Kanō school of painting.

[1] Masanobu's father had been a samurai and amateur artist named Kanō Kagenobu.

[2] Kanō Masanobu would serve the Ashikaga shogunate as an official painter (御用絵師, goyō eshi), succeeding Sōtan [ja] to the post.

Instead of a rank, he had gained his position in service due to a mix of both achievement and social capital.

This led to some criticism as aristocrat Shūzan Tōki expressed disdain towards Masanobu stating he was not a "born court painter.