Advanced Search 
「絵鏡台見立三十木花撰 石川五右衛門」 八代目市川団十郎
Actor Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Ishikawa Goemon (with Gourd Vine), from the series Pictorial Mirror Stands Matched with Thirty Selected Flowers (E kyôdai mitate sanjû bokkasen)
「絵鏡台見立三十木花撰 石川五右衛門」 八代目市川団十郎
Japanese
Edo period
1845 (Kôka 2), 9th month
Medium/Technique
Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
Vertical ôban; 35.9 x 25.6 cm (14 1/8 x 10 1/16 in.)
Credit Line
William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.36636
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia, Prints and Drawings
ClassificationsPrints
Catalogue Raisonné
Waseda db 005-0901; Clark, Kuniyoshi from Miller Coll. (2009), p. 26, fig. 10; Iwakiri, "Tenpô kaikaku," in Ukiyo-e geijutsu 143 (2002), fig. 22
DescriptionThe actor's name has been written in by hand, presumably by an early owner.
From a series of 16 known designs, of which the MFA has 4: 11.28653/11.36635, 11.36636, 11.36637, 11.36638
Iwakiri dates the series to 1845, just before the ban on actor prints was relaxed, and identifies Ishikawa Goemon (11.36636) as a portrait of ichikawa Danjûrô VIII. The Waseda db identifies Shirai Gonpachi (11.28653/11.36635) as Iwai Kumesaburô III; but neither source suggests actor identifications for the other prints in the series.
From a series of 16 known designs, of which the MFA has 4: 11.28653/11.36635, 11.36636, 11.36637, 11.36638
Iwakiri dates the series to 1845, just before the ban on actor prints was relaxed, and identifies Ishikawa Goemon (11.36636) as a portrait of ichikawa Danjûrô VIII. The Waseda db identifies Shirai Gonpachi (11.28653/11.36635) as Iwai Kumesaburô III; but neither source suggests actor identifications for the other prints in the series.
Signed
Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga
一勇斎国芳画
一勇斎国芳画
Marks
Censor's seal: Watari
No blockcutter's mark
改印：渡
彫師：なし
No blockcutter's mark
改印：渡
彫師：なし
Inscriptions「千なりやさて孝行の種ふくべ」
ProvenanceBy 1911, purchased by William Sturgis Bigelow (b. 1850–d. 1926), Boston [see note 1]; 1911, gift of Bigelow to the MFA. (Accession Date: January 19, 2005)
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.