Advanced Search 
「東京日本橋御高札場之図」
The Official Notice Board at Nihonbashi Bridge in Tôkyô (Tôkyô Nihonbashi gokôsatsuba no zu)
「東京日本橋御高札場之図」
Japanese
Meiji era
1868 (Keiô 4/Meiji 1), 10th month
Medium/Technique
Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
Vertical ôban triptych; 36 x 73 cm (14 3/16 x 28 3/4 in.)
Credit Line
William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.27041-3
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia, Prints and Drawings
ClassificationsPrints
In 1868, the Emperor moved from Kyoto to the former city of Edo, now renamed Tokyo (literally Eastern Imperial Capital). This triptych purports to be a cityscape showing Nihonbashi, the bridge in the center of the city that was the starting point for the major highways and the site of the official notice board proclaiming new laws. But the real subject is the procession of the Meiji Emperor arriving in the city, accompanied by the Imperial Regalia that symbolize his right to rule. Two portable shrines hold the Regalia, and the Emperor himself rides in a third palanquin.
In the background of the title panel at the upper left are two designs, the chrysanthemum crest and the paulownia crest, both used by the imperial family at the time; today, the chrysanthemum represents the Emperor and the paulownia represents the Prime Minister.
In the background of the title panel at the upper left are two designs, the chrysanthemum crest and the paulownia crest, both used by the imperial family at the time; today, the chrysanthemum represents the Emperor and the paulownia represents the Prime Minister.
DescriptionTriptych: 11.27041 (left), 11.2704 (center), 11.27043 (right)
Signed
Ôju Hiroshige hitsu (on left sheet)
応需広重筆
応需広重筆
Marks
Censor's seal: Dragon 10 aratame
No blockcutter's mark
改印：辰十改
彫師：なし
No blockcutter's mark
改印：辰十改
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: 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.
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.