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「東海道五十三駅 名画之書分 鳴海 宮 左リ甚五郎 中村歌右衛門」（四代目）
Each print of this series was co-designed by the two artists and represents two of the fifty-three towns along Japan’s main highway that were designated as official rest stops. Landscapes are mixed with scenes from Kabuki plays. The seventy-eight-year-old Kunisada, famed for his actor portraits, showed a top star in the role of a legendary sculptor of ancient times; the much younger Kyōsai depicted the wooden image of a ferocious temple guardian that the sculptor is carving.
Narumi and Miya: Actor Nakamura Utaemon IV as Hidari Jingorô, from the series The Fifty-three Stations of the Tôkaidô Road Divided between Two Famous Artists (Tôkaidô gojûsan eki meiga no kakiwake)
「東海道五十三駅 名画之書分 鳴海 宮 左リ甚五郎 中村歌右衛門」（四代目）
Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) (Japanese, 1786–1864)
Kawanabe Kyôsai (Japanese, 1831–1889)
Publisher: Ôtaya Takichi (Hori Takichi) (Japanese)
Kawanabe Kyôsai (Japanese, 1831–1889)
Publisher: Ôtaya Takichi (Hori Takichi) (Japanese)
Japanese
Edo period
1864 (Bunkyû 4/Genji 1), 6th month
Medium/Technique
Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
Vertical ôban; 37.7 x 25.5 cm (14 13/16 x 10 1/16 in.)
Credit Line
William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.21410
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia, Prints and Drawings
ClassificationsPrints
Each print of this series was co-designed by the two artists and represents two of the fifty-three towns along Japan’s main highway that were designated as official rest stops. Landscapes are mixed with scenes from Kabuki plays. The seventy-eight-year-old Kunisada, famed for his actor portraits, showed a top star in the role of a legendary sculptor of ancient times; the much younger Kyōsai depicted the wooden image of a ferocious temple guardian that the sculptor is carving.
Catalogue Raisonné
Kaikan sanjû shûnen kinen Kawanabe Kyôsai kinen bijutsukan cat. (2008), p. 106, #0827; Marks, Kunisada's Tôkaidô (2013), #T68-21, pp. 218, 221; Clark, Demon of Painting (1993), #22
DescriptionNakamura Utaemon IV died in 1852, so this is a posthumous portrait. He played the role of Hidari Jingorô in 1847.
Signed
Konomi ni makase nanajûkyû sai Toyokuni ga (Drawn at your pleasure by seventy-nine-year-old Toyokuni); Motome ni ôjite Seisei Kyôsai (Seisei Kyôsai by special request)
任好七十九歳豊国画
任好七十九歳豊国画
Marks
Censor's seal: Rat 6 aratame (?)
No blockcutter's mark
Artists' seals: toshidama (after Toyokuni's signature); Seisei (after Kyôsai's signature)
改印：子六改ヵ
彫師：なし
No blockcutter's mark
Artists' seals: toshidama (after Toyokuni's signature); Seisei (after Kyôsai's signature)
改印：子六改ヵ
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.
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.