Actor Ichikawa Ichizô III as Nisshin Denkichi and Nakamura Fukusuke I as Deiusumaru, No. 1 from the series Comparison of Fan Followings in the Eastern Capital (Tôto hiiki kurabe)

「東都贔屓競　一」　「日親伝吉」三代目市川市蔵、「丁宇寸丸」初代中村福助

Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) (Japanese, 1786–1864)
Utagawa Kunisada II (Kunimasa III, Toyokuni IV) (Japanese, 1823–1880)
Publisher: Sagamiya Tôkichi (Ai-To) (Japanese)

Japanese

Edo period

1857 (Ansei 4), 8th month

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

Dimensions Vertical ôban; 36.8 x 25.3 cm (14 1/2 x 9 15/16 in.)

Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection

Accession Number11.42416

NOT ON VIEW

CollectionsAsia, Prints and Drawings

ClassificationsPrints

DescriptionPlay: Toki ni Minna Minobu no Goriyaku
Theater: Morita
当南身延妙利益（ときにみんなみのぶのごりやく）
森田
1857、安政０４、08・10

Signed Ôju Toyokuni hitsu, in toshidama cartouche (above); Kunisada ga, in toshidama cartouche (below)
応需豊国筆(年玉枠)、国貞画(年玉枠)

Marks Censor's seals: aratame, Snake 8
No blockcutter's mark
改印：改、巳八
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.