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Courtesans Viewing Cherry Blossoms: Nioteru of the Ôgiya, kamuro Namiji and Ômi (R); Utahime of the Matsubaya, kamuro Kanomo and Konomo (C); Senzan of the Chôjiya, kamuro Yasono and Yasoji (L)


仲之町の桜 「あふぎや内にほてる なみぢ あふみ」  「松葉屋内 歌歌姫 かのも このも」  「丁子や内 せん山 やその やそぢ」
Torii Kiyonaga (Japanese, 1752–1815)
Publisher: Nishimuraya Yohachi (Eijudō) (Japanese)
Japanese
Edo period
1785 (Tenmei 5)

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions Vertical ôban triptych; 39 x 78 cm (15 3/8 x 30 11/16 in.)
Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.14007-9
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints

Catalogue Raisonné MFA, Printed Treasures (2008), #60; Chiba Museum, Torii Kiyonaga (2007), list #30, pl. 124; Ukiyo-e shûka 2 (1985), list #38; Ukiyo-e shûka 5 (1980), pls. 181-3; Hirano, Kiyonaga (1939), #797, pl. LXXII
DescriptionTriptych: 11.14007 (right), 11.14008 (center), 11.14009 (left)

MFA impressions: 11.13959 (C, key block), 11.14007-9 (complete triptych), 11.14010-2 (complete triptych), 21.7431-2 (L and C)

Dateable to 1785 by checking the names of the kamuro in Yoshiwara guidebooks; see Ukiyo-e shûka 5, pp. 200-1.
Signed Kiyonaga ga (on each sheet)
清長画
ProvenanceBy 1911, purchased by William Sturgis Bigelow (b. 1850 – d. 1926), Boston [see note 1]; 1911, gift of Bigelow to the MFA. (Accession Date: August 3, 1911)

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.