Actor Sawamura Tanosuke II as Sotoyama Myôshin, from the series The Book of the Eight Dog Heroes (Hakkenden inu no sôshi no uchi)

「八犬傳いぬのさうしの内　外山妙真（とやまみょうしん）」　二代目沢村田之助

Utagawa Kunisada II (Kunimasa III, Toyokuni IV) (Japanese, 1823–1880)
Publisher: Tsutaya Kichizô (Kôeidô) (Japanese)
Blockcutter: Tsuge Shôjirô (Hori Shôji) (Japanese)

Japanese

Edo period

1852 (Kaei 5), 12th month

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper

Dimensions Vertical ôban; 36.2 × 25 cm (14 1/4 × 9 13/16 in.)

Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection

Accession Number11.39127

NOT ON VIEW

CollectionsAsia, Prints and Drawings

ClassificationsPrints

Catalogue Raisonné Chiba Museum, Hakkenden no sekai (2008), #56; Nihon no koten 16, Nansô Satomi Hakkenden (1976), p. 65

DescriptionNo. 14 of the Left group on the title page (11.39112).

MFA impressions: 11.39127, 11.44512

Signed Kunisada ga, in toshidama cartouche
国貞画(年玉枠)

Marks Censors' seals: Kinugasa, Murata, Rat 12
Blockcutter's mark: Hori Shôji
改印：衣笠、村田、子十二
彫師：彫庄治

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.