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「一もんじや才兵衛」四代目坂東彦三郎 「仮名手本忠臣蔵」「おかる」二代目尾上菊次郎 「早の勘平」八代目市川団十郎
Actors Bandô Hikosaburô IV as Ichimonjiya Saihei (R), Onoe Kikujirô II as Okaru (C), and Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Hayano Kanpei (L), in The Storehouse of Loyal Retainers, a Primer (Kanadehon Chûshingura)
「一もんじや才兵衛」四代目坂東彦三郎 「仮名手本忠臣蔵」「おかる」二代目尾上菊次郎 「早の勘平」八代目市川団十郎
Japanese
Edo period
1847 (Kôka 4), 6th month
Medium/Technique
Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
Vertical ôban triptych; 35.9 x 72.8 cm (14 1/8 x 28 11/16 in.)
Credit Line
William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.38479a-c
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia, Prints and Drawings
ClassificationsPrints
Catalogue Raisonné
Asano et al., Chûshingura VII (2014), list #1-593 (no photo)
DescriptionThe MFA has two different versions of this triptych, with different actors in the right sheet and different censors' seals on all sheets: 11.38479a-c, plus 11.38139 (key block for the same version, center sheet only); and 2009.4992.10a-c. The latter seems to be a recycling of the two left blocks for a later production featuring the same lead actor (Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII), but at a different theater with a different supporting cast.
Play: Chûshin Meimei Kikigaki Zôsho
Theater: Nakamura
忠臣列撰随筆蔵（ちゅうしんめいめいききがきぞうしょ）
中村
1847、弘化０４
Play: Chûshin Meimei Kikigaki Zôsho
Theater: Nakamura
忠臣列撰随筆蔵（ちゅうしんめいめいききがきぞうしょ）
中村
1847、弘化０４
Signed
Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (on each sheet)
一勇斎国芳画
一勇斎国芳画
Marks
Censors' seals: Muramatsu, Yoshimura
No blockcutter's mark
改印：村松、吉村
彫師：なし
No blockcutter's mark
改印：村松、吉村
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.
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.