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七代目市川団十郎と六代目市川海老蔵
Specific prestigious names passed down through kabuki families, indicating the prestige and skill of the actors who received them. Fans commissioned luxurious works like this to commemorate such occasions. In 1832, the young Ichikawa Ebizō VI, only nine years old, received the name of Ichikawa Danjūrō, becoming the 8th actor to do so. His father gave the name up to his son, and is shown in the inset, framed by the family’s “three boxes” insignia, also seen on his robes.
Actors Ichikawa Danjûrô VII (inset) and His Son Ichikawa Ebizô VI (Danjûrô VIII)
七代目市川団十郎と六代目市川海老蔵
Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) (Japanese, 1786–1864)
Japanese
Edo period
about 1830 (Bunsei 13/Tenpô 1)
Medium/Technique
Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
Shikishiban; 21.2 x 18.6 cm (8 3/8 x 7 5/16 in.)
Credit Line
William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.25971
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia, Prints and Drawings
ClassificationsPrints
Specific prestigious names passed down through kabuki families, indicating the prestige and skill of the actors who received them. Fans commissioned luxurious works like this to commemorate such occasions. In 1832, the young Ichikawa Ebizō VI, only nine years old, received the name of Ichikawa Danjūrō, becoming the 8th actor to do so. His father gave the name up to his son, and is shown in the inset, framed by the family’s “three boxes” insignia, also seen on his robes.
Catalogue Raisonné
Goodall, Living for the Moment (Bowman Coll. exh. cat., 2015), p. 70; Mirviss w/ Carpenter, Jewels of J. Printmaking (2000), #99 (diff. poems); Rijksmuseum cat. IV, Hiroshige and the Utagawa School (1984), #146; Polster & Marks, Surimono (1980), p. 305
Signed
Kôchôrô Kunisada ga
香蝶楼国貞画
香蝶楼国貞画
InscriptionsPoems by Hôjutei Funauta and Hôshitei
宝珠亭船唄 むさし野に柴もひそられと春雨のおやのひかりをか★る若艸
宝市亭 そか中になくてかなはしらひつみの子海老なからも春のたてもの
宝珠亭船唄 むさし野に柴もひそられと春雨のおやのひかりをか★る若艸
宝市亭 そか中になくてかなはしらひつみの子海老なからも春のたてもの
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.