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The Rebuilding of Lord Ôta Harunaga's Castle Wall by Sarukichirô


大田春長の城塀修復図(清洲城割普請の図)
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (Japanese, 1797–1861)
Publisher: Yamamotoya Heikichi (Eikyûdô) (Japanese)
Japanese
Edo period
1849 (Kaei 2)

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions Vertical ôban triptych; 36.3 x 75.5 cm (14 5/16 x 29 3/4 in.)
Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.38185a-c
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints

Catalogue Raisonné Osaka Castle Mus., Ukiyo-eshi ga egaita ransei (2018), #25; Ôta Mus., Ukiyo-e sengoku emaki (2011), #141; Hizô Ukiyo-e taikan 5, Victoria and Albert Museum II (1987), pl. 53; Robinson, Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints (1982), list #T204
DescriptionMFA impressions: 11.28648-50, 11.38185a-c

The incident depicted is the legendary repair of Kiyosu Castle in Owari Province in about 1560 by Kinoshita Tôkichirô (later known as Toyotomi Hideyoshi), here called Nakaura Sarukichirô, on behalf of Oda Nobunaga, here called Ôta Harunaga.
Signed Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (on each sheet)
一勇斎国芳画
Marks Censors' seals: Mera, Murata
No blockcutter's mark
改印:米良、村田
彫師:なし
Inscriptions「大多春永之城塀百間斗崩れけるを修復せんと山口九郎次郎を以普請掛りとして昼夜をわかたず修復せしめども日を重るに成就なさず既に廿日余に及びけれバ是等閑(なをざり)に捨置きがたし とうとう中浦猿吉郎を以九郎次郎に代わらしめ三日之内に成就なさしむべしと厳に命じたまふ 猿吉郎工夫を以ってただ三日之内ニこれを成就なす これ全く猿吉郎の秀才にして世の人よくしる所なり」
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.