Actors Bandô Sanpachi I as Tsurigane Yazaemon, Bandô Sanpachi II as Banba no Chûta, and Bandô Sanpachi IV in the Sparrow Dance (Suzume odori), from the series Complete Compendium of Portraits of Actors Old and New (Kokon haiyû nigao taizen)

Inscription

画中「初吉田三十郎ト云三味線弾ニテ八代目羽左衛門門ニ入坂東又八　後三八ト改　俳名平久　初代三津五郎養父ナリ」（初代坂東三八）、「初代三八門人　初名又八　後二代目三八俳名平久」（二代目坂東三八）、「十二代目羽左衛門門人坂東橘十郎男　初名相蔵　改テ三八　弘化三丙午年没」（三代目坂東三八）

Signed

Nanajûhassai Toyokuni hitsu, in toshidama cartouche 七十八歳豊国筆(年玉枠)

Marks

Censor's seal: Boar 10 aratame No blockcutter's mark 亥十改

Provenance

By 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.

Credit Line

William Sturgis Bigelow Collection

Japanese, Edo period, 1863 (Bunkyû 3), 10th month

• Artist Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III), Japanese, 1786–1864
• Publisher Hirookaya Kôsuke, Japanese, 1828–1918

Collections

Asia

Classifications

Prints