Tosa school
However, he was versatile in his painting and was able to produce landscapes, scenery, and figures of bold decorative patterns. This was likely due to his father-in-law being head of the Tosa school, Tosa Mitsunobu, who was famous for his revival of the "yamato-e" style. Noted works in the "yamato-e" style include a set of hand scrolls "Seiryō-ji no engi" ("Origins of Seiryō-ji", 1515; Kyoto, Seiryō-ji), and some "fusuma" wall paintings. By mastering these two distinct styles, Motonobu's artistic skills could be tailored to match his respective patron and create a unique fusion of Chinese and Japanese style. This fusion of Chinese style and iconography with Japanese aesthetics is what helped the Kanō school achieve the legendary status it is known for today.