Title: Nagoya Sanzaburo E Monogatari Maki (Nagoya Sanzaburo Picture Story Scroll), Circa 1688-1730. A Beautifully Illuminated Emakimono Handscroll in the Style of a Nara Ehon, with Nineteen Beautiful Paintings, Accentuated with Gold-Sprayed Borders
Author: Follower or Student of Hanabusa Itcho
Condition: Very Good
An Early to Mid Edo Period, late 17th to early 18th century emakimono handscroll, beautifully produced in the style of a Nara Emaki, being a copy of Nagoya Sanzaburo E Monogatari Maki, or the Nagoya Sanzaburo Picture Story Scroll.
The tale is that of the popular rivalry between Nagoya Sanzaburo and Fuwa Banzaemon for the love of Katsuragi, a courtesan of the Shimabara quarter in Kyoto. This tale is one of the oldest themes of popular theatre in the Edo Period and reached a peak point of popularity during the Genroku Era (1688-1704), becoming a Kabuki staple.
This example has nineteen beautiful paintings of the two rivals and their experiences throughout Kyoto, with numerous, detailed landscapes, scenes of merriment and heavy drinking, and more violent scenes such as Banzaemon's murder of Sanzaburo's father, the eventual revenge of Sanzaburo and henchman Umezu Kamon, and the duel between Sanzaburo and Banzaemon. The final painting which would include the happy union of Sanzaburo and Katsuragi appears to be lacking or was never copied.
The paintings have been beautifully produced, with significant detail and vibrant colors, and quite a bit of work put into the facial expressions of each figure. The foliage shows considerable technique used, and much of the attire of each figure has been decorated with numerous designs. The borders have been decorated with gold and silver sprays, in the style of a Nara Ehon, though some of it has dulled.
Barring some coloring and other slight differences, there is a copy of the same play at the British Museum, being object 1902,0606,0.24. It has been noted that copy was copied after an earlier manuscript in the collection of the Toyama Kinenkan, Saitama Prefecture, produced by Hanabusa Itcho, with the BM copy being produced by a pupil. With that in mind, it is highly likely another follower or student of Itcho produced this very copy as well.
The paintings have been laid down and bound in a scroll for preservation, and there are jikusaki (knobs) made of lacquered wood.
One emakimono (picture scroll) on fine paper, 28 x 900 cm
This emakimono is in very good shape, with some rubbing and wear to the protective scroll covers. There is some old soiling and a bit of scattered staining, and two very small tears to the lower margins. Some of the gold and silver border spray has dulled.