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Historical Site of Sano at Itahana Station (Itahana, Sano koseki): Actor Onoe Shinshichi III (?) as [Sano] Genzaemon Tsuneyo, from the series The Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaidô Road (Kisokaidô rokujûkyû eki)


「木曽六十九駅 板鼻 佐野古跡 源左衛門常世」 三代目尾上新七ヵ
Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) (Japanese, 1786–1864)
Publisher: Minatoya Kohei (Japanese)
Japanese
Edo period
1852 (Kaei 5), 12th month

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions Vertical ôban; 38.1 x 26.1 cm (15 x 10 1/4 in.)
Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.17324
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints

DescriptionStation 15.

Sano Genzaemon Tsuneyo is best known as the main character of the nô play (also adapted for kabuki) Hachinoki, who sacrifices his three prized bonsai trees as firewood to keep a guest warm; the potted pine, bamboo, and plum are shown in the border of the title cartouche. The main image shows him earlier in his life, as a young warrior in armor holding a round box that probably contains the head of an enemy.
Signed Toyokuni ga, in toshidama cartouche
豊国画(年玉枠)
Marks Censors' seals: Kinugasa, Murata, Rat 12
No blockcutter's mark
改印:衣笠、村田、子十二
彫師:なし
ProvenanceBy 1911, purchased by William Sturgis Bigelow (b. 1850 - d. 1926), Boston [see note 1]; 1911, gift of Bigelow to the MFA. (Accession Date: August 3, 1911)

NOTES:
[1] Much of Bigelow's collection of Asian art was formed during his residence in Japan between 1882 and 1889, although he also made acquisitions in Europe and the United States. Bigelow deposited many of these objects at the MFA in 1890 before donating them to the Museum's collection at later dates.