Saidaiji Temple, Nara, The Treasures of Eison and his school

⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎ Excellent and Highly Recommendable

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Official Site 2

Site: Mitsui Memorial Museum

Until 11th June, 2017

Nice selection of Buddhist sculptures and metal works in Kamakura period, celebrating 1250th anniversary of establishing Saidaiji Temple and focusing Eison (1202-1290) one of reformist monks in Kamakura period.

Two national treasures are magnificent: the Stone Box of Buddha is one of the finest metal work in Kamakura period, with sophisticated dragon, flowers and lions showing the Japanese craftsmanship having catching up with Song of China; and the statute of Eison is semi-idealized embodiment of the dignity and self-discipline of the great religious leader.

The statue of Zenzai Douji (Virtues Boy) is charming with his face in profile, which looks alike ones of Hellenistic or Gandhara sculptures.

Another National Treasure, Twelve Devas could be called an ancestor of Japanese "kawaii characters", which have survived until modern Japanese pop characters, through medieval emaki scrolls, yamatoe flooding scrolls, ukiyoe prints and Tezuka Osamu.

From 6th June on, Lakshmi of Joururiji, one of the loveliest goddess sculpture and one rarely displayed out of the temple, come to the exhibition. Never to miss.

The merit of exhibitions in Mitsui Memorial Museum is the closeness to the work, especially in case of sculptures. Lighting is also excellent.  The wooden furniture of the museum is of classic taste, well suited to exhibition of Japanese arts.

For frequent visitors, Museum Passport is recommendable, with unlimited free entry for 2 persons during one year and discounts at the museum shop.

BABEL Collection of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen

⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎Never to miss for all
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Official Site 2

Site: Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum
Until 2nd July, 2017

It is second time for the Tower of Babel, the second version to come to Japan.  In contrast with 1993 exhibition, this time the Tower of Babel is not a guest principal dancer but main hero of the plot.  The prelude was played by Joachim Patinir's landscapes, including Sodom, and the fantastic scenes by Boss, followed by prints by the Followers of Boss and Brugel the elder himself.

The Babel is what could be called a giant miniature, which mandates a monocular to fully enjoy the details never to be rivaled.  All the more at this exhibition, where the first row of spectators may not stop in front of the work. The explanatory panels and the enlarged spiral path are so helpful to learn the  miracle done by Brugel.

While I prefer the first version in Wien, the second one in Rotterdam is also a real masterpiece, and even this work by itself deserve to come to see.

And 3 more works by Boss also wait you.  The Pedlar was apparently once parts of a triptych.  According to the catalogue of Prado Exhibition in 2016, it was with the Ships of Fools in Louvre, Allegory of Intemperance in Yale Univ. Art Gallery and Death and the Miser in National Gallery of Art, Washington. The draft lines seen on the work suggest very thin layers of pigments, which reminds me that Boss was contemporary with Leonard and Giorgione, and might have visited Venezia.  I never agree with The Japanese catching phrase of this exhibition "the Treasure of Netherland in 16th Century: Surpassing Boss", the delicate brush touch of Boss was succeeded by Brugel indeed.

St. Christpher has regained the vivid coloring after restoration. The scene is enigmatic as always with the rest works of Boss, and he might have suggested pious life is the hardest task for humans full of "peccatum originale".  

A small fragment attributed to Boss is no to be neglected. The fine brush work and the details around the mouth and the eye makes me to agree to the attribution.  If only the whole work had survived!

While not a few of the ground floor paintings seemed exhibited due to aspect of art history, charming were Christ by Dieric Bouts and the Wife of Potiphar Showing Clothes of Joseph by Lucas van Leyden.

Many prints of Followers of Boss under Cock are falsely inscribed as "Jheronymus Boss Inventor.", which shows why copyright and author's moral right shall be entitled.

Picture Scrolls Enthusiasts - We Love Emaki

⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎Never to miss for all

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Site: Suntory Museum of Art
Until 14th May, 2017

It is not only among one of major maki exhibitions, but also is the fist to focus on the patrons and readers of emaki scrolls.  So charming selection of rarely seen masterpieces with exciting enlightenment.

Kasuga Gongen Genki-e is vivid and magnificient as usual.  This time, it can be enjoyed along with Ishiyamadera Engi Emaki possibly by the same painter!

Genjo Sanzo E from Fujita Art Museum shows what 13th century Japanese imagined as Buddhist painted caves in central Asia and Ruins in Swat Valley.  Emaki functioned as modern TV, movie film or manga.  So Emaki enthusiasts, including the most noble members of the time, could be compared with contemporary mania, otaku or geeks.

The most beautiful and sublime rice field appears in gold on Kuwanomidera Engi Emaki, which makes pale not few traditional Japanese painters in modern and contemporary times.

While Heiji Monogatari Emaki is absent, major scrolls depicting armored samurai's battles  come together: Mouko Shurai Ekotoba, Zen Kunen Kassen Emaki and Go Sannen Kassen Emaki.

Quest for beauty of drawing, especially in feminine hair is a characteristic of Japanese art, and can be remarked in many works exhibited this time.

Old Masters from the State Hermitage Museum

⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎Never to miss for all
Official Site

Site: Mori Arts Center Gallery
Until 18th June, 2017

Good selction from the Hermitage, from the viewpoint of taste of Ekaterina II. Some works has revisited Japan with 25 years' interval.

Portrait of a Young Woman in a Hat with a Feather by Tiziano  has a magical gaze, part of the secret of which lies in the finest work in her irises.  Tisane succeeded in sophistication compatible with somewhat scandalous theme as usual.  His talent can be better understood through comparison of a work of his bottega (workshop).

The bottega work, Venus before the Mirror may be among the finest of his bottega works, but still far below those of his own, from the appearance of the goddess' left hand to the total atmosphere.

St. Cecilia by Carlo Dorci is on the summit of this Exhibition, also among the best paintings on music.  A music dedicated to the God could be listen.  I wonder why not holding an exhibition focused on Carlo Dorci in Japan.

Andromeda by Francesco Furini shows a contrast of an emotional face with ceramic-like body in nude. Abundant volume of her hair emphasizes her sorrow as well as increasing sensuality.  A dramatic but still tranquil baroque nude.

Young Woman with a Veil by Jean-Baptiste Santerre is a mysterious work.  Is she a mistress, a priest, a sibylla  or a swindler.  While the catalogue suggests "superficial attempt to imitate the works of Rembrandt", the rather intellectual atmosphere of this work seems more close to those of La Tour.  Rembrandt works are with darker aura of human beings.

Haman Learns His Fate by Rembrandt is remarkable with the unique design in arrangements, with impact of expression of tarban and Red-Orange clothes, suggesting the bloody fate.

The Childhood of the Virgin by Zurbaran could be one of the best of his work in spite of its size, in that it is successful example of his quest for classic holiness merger with Spanish native ethos.  

The Virgin and Child beneath an Apple Tree by Cranach the elder waits in The final section.  While it is representing a triumph of Christ over the Sin, the look of Mary and Jesus is rather demonish, testing human beings.  A rare Mary as a femme fatale.