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Actors Iwai Kumesaburô II as Agemaki (R), Ichikawa Danjûrô VII as Sukeroku (C), and Onoe Kikugorô III as Shinbei (L)


二代目岩井粂三郎の揚巻  八代目市川団十郎の助六  三代目尾上菊五郎の新兵衛
Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) (Japanese, 1786–1864)
Japanese
Edo period
about 1829 (Bunsei 12)

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper
Dimensions Shikishiban triptych; 20.9 x 55.6 cm (8 1/4 x 21 7/8 in.)
Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.26729-31
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints

Catalogue Raisonné MFA, Kuniyoshi & Kunisada (2016), #41; Izzard, Kunisada's World (1993), #54; Keyes, Art of Surimono (Chester Beatty cat., 1985), vol. 1, #239 (L only); Bowie et al, Art of the Surimono (1979), #74 (C only); Crighton, The Floating World (1973), #I 62
DescriptionTriptych: 11.26729 (left), 11.26730 (right), 11.26731 (center)

MFA impressions: 11.26729-31, 21.7532-4

Poems translated in Izzard 1993, p. 121; Keyes 1985, vol. 1, p. 273 (L only); and Bowie et al. 1979, p. 124 (C only).
Signed Kôchôrô Kunisada ga (on each sheet)
香蝶楼国貞画
InscriptionsRight: Poem by Ryûôtei Hananari: Hana-ayame/ Edo murasaki no/iro ito mo/ Naniwa no mizu ni/ musubu Agemaki

Center: Poem by Tsukushitei Waki no Aritake: Hachimaki ni/ Edo murasaki no/ yokogasumi/ ima zo Naniwa mo/ haru to naritaya

Left: Poem by Ryûkatei Fûshi Mizugaki: Iroka o ba/ hoka e yuzurite/ kono hana no/ aniki to miyuru/ Naniwazu no haru

Poem by Ryûôtei Hananari: Sanga no tsu/ ichi to mo hito no/ medeyasen/ Fuji no onoe ni/ yuki no shirozake
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.