Chiarini: World’s Greatest Circus
Artist
Toyohara Chikanobu
(Japanese, 1838 - 1912)
Publisher
Ōkura Shirobei
(Japanese, late 19th century)
Date3 September, 1886
PeriodMeiji period (1868–1912)
MediumTriptych of woodblock prints (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
DimensionsOverall (Triptych): 14 3/4 × 29 1/2 in. (37.5 × 75 cm)
Frame: 22 1/4 × 37 1/16 × 1 in. (56.5 × 94.1 × 2.5 cm)
Image (Triptych): 14 1/4 × 29 1/8 in. (36.2 × 74 cm)
Sheet (Left): 14 3/4 × 9 15/16 in. (37.5 × 25.3 cm)
Sheet (Center): 14 3/4 × 9 15/16 in. (37.4 × 25.2 cm)
Sheet (Right): 14 3/4 × 10 1/16 in. (37.5 × 25.5 cm)
Matt: 20 1/16 × 35 1/16 in. (51 × 89 cm)
Frame: 22 1/4 × 37 1/16 × 1 in. (56.5 × 94.1 × 2.5 cm)
Image (Triptych): 14 1/4 × 29 1/8 in. (36.2 × 74 cm)
Sheet (Left): 14 3/4 × 9 15/16 in. (37.5 × 25.3 cm)
Sheet (Center): 14 3/4 × 9 15/16 in. (37.4 × 25.2 cm)
Sheet (Right): 14 3/4 × 10 1/16 in. (37.5 × 25.5 cm)
Matt: 20 1/16 × 35 1/16 in. (51 × 89 cm)
ClassificationsPrints
Credit LineMuseum purchase, 2020
Object number2020.16
Giuseppe Chiarini's Royal Italian Circus, one of the most influential 19th century circuses, travelled to Japan for the first time in 1886, and performed in Yokohama, Nagasaki, Kobe, Kyoto, Osaka, and Tokyo. This triptych by Chikanobu commemorates the opening of their show on September 1 in Akihabara, Tokyo. The print shows in lively detail some of the acts and their exotic origins: two one-legged men, a French woman, English equestrian, a lion from Africa, a “large bird from Australia,” Indian tigers, a dancing horse from Burma. The background, with graduated bands of red and green, is perhaps a reference to the Italian tricolor.
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