Nitta Tadatsune was sent by the Emperor to eliminate the monsters hiding in Mount Fuji. This print depicts him having bravely advanced into a cave in its slope, where he encounters the goddess of the mountain and her dragon. Unlike his retainers Tadatsune is not afraid and the goddess praises him for his bravery.

Shirai Toshinobu II was a pupil of Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (1839–1892).

For the same triptych in the collection of the Waseda University Theatre Museum, object number 201-2965, go to:
http://archive.waseda.jp/archive/
Post Lot Text
This lot will be subject to VAT of 20% on both the hammer price and buyer’s premium. Please see Conditions of Sale of further information.