Artwork Page for Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Urabe Suetake, Onoe Matsusuke I as Usui Sadamitsu, and Nakamura Nakazo I as Watanabe no Tsuna in “The Four Heavenly Kings Costumed as the Night Watch”

Details / Information for Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Urabe Suetake, Onoe Matsusuke I as Usui Sadamitsu, and Nakamura Nakazo I as Watanabe no Tsuna in “The Four Heavenly Kings Costumed as the Night Watch”

Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Urabe Suetake, Onoe Matsusuke I as Usui Sadamitsu, and Nakamura Nakazo I as Watanabe no Tsuna in “The Four Heavenly Kings Costumed as the Night Watch”

四天王宿直着綿　二代目市川門之助の卜部季末武、初代尾上松助の碓井貞光、初代中村仲蔵の渡辺綱

1781

Katsukawa Shunzan 勝川 春山

(Japanese, active c. 1782–98)
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Culture
Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)
Medium
triptych of color woodblock prints
Measurements
Overall: 31 x 14.5 cm (12 3/16 x 5 11/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift from J. H. Wade 1921.314
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
Print

Description

This triptych (a composition of three prints) shows actors portraying three of the four famed protectors of imperial regent Minamoto Yorimitsu (948?–1021). Collectively, they are known as his Shitennō (四天王), or “Four Heavenly Kings,” after the Buddhist deities who guard the four cardinal directions. The characters are indicated by the large house crests on their robes. The actor Onoe Matsusuke I’s identity is revealed by a fan with the ideograph matsu (松), or “pine,” tucked into his robe, just against his breastplate.
A horizontal triptych of woodblock prints depicts three men with light skin in ornate robes against a background of vertical wooden slats. On the left, Urabe Suetake raises a sword and holds a lantern. In the center, Usui Sadamitsu stands with one arm outstretched and another hand on a hilt. On the right, Watanabe no Tsuna wears a red garment with a white three-circle crest. Muted orange, cream, and vibrant red tones dominate.

Ichikawa Monnosuke II as Urabe Suetake, Onoe Matsusuke I as Usui Sadamitsu, and Nakamura Nakazo I as Watanabe no Tsuna in “The Four Heavenly Kings Costumed as the Night Watch”

1781

Katsukawa Shunzan

(Japanese, active c. 1782–98)
Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)

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