A Dance Rehearsel Imitating the First Raising of a Building Pillar (Odori keiyô hashiradate no manebi): Actors Bandô Shûka I as Ôiso no Tora, Bandô Takesaburô I as Soga Jûrô, Ichikawa Kodanji IV as Ômi Kotôda (R); Arashi Rikan III as Kudô Suketsune, Kataoka Gadô II as Soga Gorô (C); Arashi Kichisaburô III as Yawata Saburô, Iwai Kumesaburô III as Kewaizaka no Shôshô, and Nakamura Fukusuke I as Asahina (L)

「踊形容柱建之まねび」右　初代坂東しうかの大磯の虎、初代坂東竹三郎の曽我十郎、四代目市川小団次の近江小藤太中　三代目嵐璃寛の工藤祐経、二代目片岡我童の曽我五郎左　三代目嵐吉三郎の八幡三郎、三代目岩井粂三郎の化粧坂の少将、初代中村福助の朝比奈

Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) (Japanese, 1786–1864)
Publisher: Shimizuya Naojirô (Japanese)

Japanese

Edo period

1854 (Kaei 7/Ansei 1), 12th month

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

Dimensions Vertical ôban triptych; 36.1 x 76.3 cm (14 3/16 x 30 1/16 in.)

Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection

Accession Number11.44121a-c

NOT ON VIEW

CollectionsAsia, Prints and Drawings

ClassificationsPrints

Description見立

Signed Ichiyôsai Toyokuni ga (on right sheet), Toyokuni ga (on center sheet), Kôchôrô Toyokuni ga (on left sheet)
一陽斎豊国画　豊国画　香蝶楼豊国画

Marks Censor's seals: aratame, Tiger 12
No blockcutter's mark
改印：改、寅十二
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.