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Morning Glories at Iriya in the Eastern Capital (Tôto Iriya asagao), from the series Thirty-six Selected Flowers (Sanjûrokkasen)


「三十六花撰 東都 入谷朝顔」
Utagawa Hiroshige II (Shigenobu) (Japanese, 1826–1869)
Publisher: Tsutaya Kichizô (Kôeidô) (Japanese)
Japanese
Edo period
1866 (Keiô 2), 7th month

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions Vertical ôban; 36.8 x 23.7 cm (14 1/2 x 9 5/16 in.)
Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.37267
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints
The morning glory was a popular summer flower that could be grown at home even by those with no space for a peony garden. Morning glories could be trained to grow up walls or fences, or they could be raised as potted plants through the use of small trellises in the pots. This nursery at Iriya, near Ueno, offers potted morning glories in sizes ranging from the small pots arranged on stairstep shelves in the background to the large ceramic basin with an elaborate trellis in the center of the display.

DescriptionNo. 28 in the series.

MFA impressions: 01.7335.29, 11.37267
Signed Risshô hitsu
立祥筆
Marks Censor's seal: Tiger 7 aratame
No blockcutter's mark
改印:寅七改
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: 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.