【The National Museum of Western Art】 Hapsburg Exhibition Press Report

The National Museum of Western Art
Martin van Meytens (child) << Portrait of Princess Maria Theresia >> circa 1745-50 Oil on canvas Vienna Art History Museum

From October 19th (Sat), 2019, at the National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo Ueno,
The 150th anniversary of the friendship between Japan and Austria, “Hapsburg Exhibition: 600 Years of Imperial Collection History” is held. (Until January 26, 2020)
The other day, prior to the event, a press preview was held.


About the Habsburg family

The Hapsburg family emerged as an Australian in the upper reaches of the Rhine, and expanded to Austria at the end of the 13th century.
One of Europe’s most prestigious families, who ruled a wide range of empires over hundreds of years until the end of World War I (1918).
Specifically, the Holy Roman Empire monopolized after the 15th century, and when the Habsburgs split into Austrian and Spanish in the 16th and 17th centuries, the Spanish expanded to South America, Africa and Asia.It became an empire without the sun setting.
After the dismantling of the Holy Roman Empire, triggered by the Napoleonic Wars, he later ruled the Austrian Empire.
During this long reign, he possessed treasures such as the world’s finest arts, decorations, crafts, weapons and historical memorabilia, utilizing his wealth and personal connections.
The “Hapsburg Exhibition” is an exhibition that introduces about 100 items, including paintings, weapons, crafts, tapestry, and prints, in cooperation with the Vienna Art History Museum, which was built by a family and opened in 1891.

Composition of the Hapsburg exhibition

The composition of the Hapsburg exhibition is as follows.

Chapter 1
The beginning of the Habsburg family collection

In Chapter 1, we will introduce 12 collections of paintings, armor, and crafts from the time when full-scale collection of the Hapsburg family art from the late XV to the 16th century began.
The attention of the Habsburgs in this period was Maximilian I (1459-1519).
Famous for his skillful marriage and expansion of his territory, Maximilian himself married Marie’s successor Marie, Flemish Burgundy, and created an opportunity to enrich the Habsburg family collection.

Chapter 2
Rudolf II and Prague Palace

Chapter 2 extends on Holy Roman Empire Rudolf II (1853-1612), a famous collector, and introduces 30 items including tapestry, armor, paintings, and sculptures.
Rudolf had no sense of governance, but the depth of art and academic knowledge was extraordinary, and when he moved the court from Vienna to Prague in 1583, paintings, weapons, small sculptures and crafts, Owned a diverse collection of natural objects specimens and watches .

Chapter 3
Chapter 3 is divided into three sections.

Chapter 3 1 The Spanish Habsburgs and Leopold I

In Chapter 3, section 1, we will introduce seven collections, including portraits that became a tool of the era when the Habsburgs were split into two systems of Austrian and Spanish and kept in touch.
The center of this era is King Philip IV of Spain (1602-1644).
He was young and thriving, passionate about art and culture, hired young Velázquez as a court painter and treated him.

Chapter 3-2
Ferdinand Carl and Tirol collection

Chapter 3-2 introduces six paintings including a collection of Ferdinand Karl, one of the Grand Duchy of Austria and an important collector, belonging to the Habsburg family.

Chapter 3-3

Chapter 3-3 introduces 24 paintings, including the collection of Leopold Wilhelm (1614–1662), one of the most important collectors of the Habsburg family.

Chapter 4 The Habsburgs and Imperial Gallery in the 18th Century

Chapter 4 introduces the people of the Habsburgs who survived the turbulent 18th century in a collection of 15 items, mainly portraits.
The attention of this era was Maria Theresia (1717-1780).
She is the “emtress” who showed her natural wisdom, political skills, and led the people through national difficulties.
Another note is Marie Antoinette (1755-1793), the youngest daughter of Maria Theresia.Married to the later French king Louis XVI, but the queen of Guillotine disappeared in the French Revolution.
Chapter 4 revolves around these people.

Chapter 5 The long reign of Franz Josef I and the end of the Austrian-Hungarian double empire

The New Holy Roman Empire was dismantled after the Napoleonic Wars, and the Austrian Empire was born in 1804. (From 1867, Austria = Hungary Double Empire)
However, the Austrian Empire collapsed due to the defeat of World War I. At the same time, the Habsburgs will end.
Chapter 5 introduces six works related to Franz Josef I (1830-1916), who decorated the endless beauty as the actual last emperor of the Habsburg family.

Editorial department attention work

Margarita Teresa, Princess of Blue Dress

Margarita Teresa’s latest work by Velázquez depicting the age of 8.
Wearing a gorgeous silk blue dress and looking at you with straight eyes, this figure is so calm that you can’t imagine it was eight years old.
Velázquez also describes Margarita Teresa, 3 and 5 years old.

Diego Velázquez, Princess of the Blue Dress Margarita Teresa, 1659 Oil on canvas Vienna Art History Museum

Portrait of Princess Maria Theresia

A portrait of Theresia, drawn by Martin van Metens, a child who was heavily used in the early reign of Maria Theresia.
From the work, you can feel the confident expression of “The Emperor” Maria Theresia who led the people and the openness of 16 children.

Martin van Meytens (child) “Portrait of the Queen Maria Theresia” circa 1745-50 Oil on canvas Vienna Art History Museum

Portrait of French Queen Marie Antoinette

A work by Marie-Louise Elisabeth Vigere-LeBlanc, who was used by Marie Antoinette as a court painter.
The work depicts a young Marie Antoinette who was married to France in a political marriage.
Marie Antoinette wearing a gorgeous satin dress and a pink rose flower is shining, and from this work you can’t even imagine a tragic death in the French Revolution.

Marie-Louise Elizabeth Vige-LeBlanc 《Portrait of Queen Marie Antoinette of France】 1778 Oil on canvas Vienna Art History Museum

Elizabeth in a pale blue dress

Portrait of Josef Horacek, depicting Elizat (nicknamed Sissi), the wife of the Austrian Emperor, who was spotted by the Hapsburg family’s last imperial emperor Franz Josef I. Because of her death, she seems to be sucked into her aura who was later deified .
The story of Elizabeth wearing a corset and imposing dietary restrictions on a daily basis to maintain the system is famous.

Josef Horacek 《Elizabeth in a pale blue dress》 1858 Oil on canvas Vienna Art History Museum

Rebeka and Eliezer at the well end

This is a masterpiece of Ottavio Vannini, depicting a scene related to the marriage of Isaac and Rebekah in the Old Testament.In the middle of the painting, Rebeka is pouring water on the reeds of his follower Eliezer and the camel behind it And the women who hold the meeting at the well end are also drawn lively.

Ottavio Vannini 《Rebeka and Eliezer at the well edge》 circa 1626/27 oil on canvas Vienna Art History Museum

Virgin and Child

A work depicting the infant Christ standing on the lap of the Virgin Mary.
The expression of Christ’s limbs that stand up in balance is delicately depicted.And the expression of Virgin Mary, who supports Christ, is calm and still seems to spill.

Carlo Dolci 《Virgin and Child》 circa 1660-70 Oil on canvas / Vienna Museum of Art History

Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I (1640-1705) and Princess Margarita Teresa (1651-1673)

This painting was drawn by Jan Thomas, one of the most important painters during the celebration of the Imperial Palace of the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I (1640-1705) and Margarita Teresa (1651-1673).
At the banquet, people dressed in costumes for the costume party enjoy the party with the emperor and his wife sitting in the back left.
If you listen carefully, you will hear the cheers of the banquet and you will feel like you are participating in the party.

Jan Tomas, Imperial Palace of the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I and Queen Margarita Teresa, 1666 Oil on canvas, Vienna Museum of Art History

Summary

We have reported on a press preview of the “Hapsburg Exhibition 150 Years of Friendship between Japan and Austria”

Many people attended the venue, not to miss one of the 100 collections of the Hapsburg family.Some of them spent several tens of minutes on the work.There were also women who were eager to watch without being able to leave, and women who wore costumes reminiscent of Marie Antoinette.

All the works at the venue are gorgeous for the royal collection.
In addition to the works introduced, there are countless exhibits such as paintings, weapons, crafts, tapestry and prints.

Currently held “Histsburg 150th Anniversary of Japan-Austria Friendship History of Empire Collection over 600 years”.
Please come to see the gorgeous items at the National Museum of Western Art.

I was watching the work so that everyone could eat it.

 

Outline

 

Exhibition name 150 Years Friendship Austria – Japan
“The Habsburg Dynasty: 600 Years of Imperial Collections”
Dates October 19, 2019 (Sat) -January 26, 2020 (Sun)
Venue The National Museum of Western Art (Ueno Park, Tokyo)
Opening hours 9: 30-17: 30 (Friday and Saturday until 20:00. November 30 (Saturday) until 17:30) * Admission is 30 minutes before closing
Closed Every Monday (but open on November 4 (Monday / holiday), January 13 (Monday / holiday)), November 5 (Tue), December 28 (Sat) -January 1 Sunday (Wednesday / Holiday), January 14 ( Tue)
Admission fee (on the day) General 1,700 yen University student 1,100 yen High school student 700 yen
(Advance / Group) General 1,400 yen University student 1,000 yen High school student 600 yen
* Group fee is 20 people or more.
* Free for junior high school students and younger.
* Free for the physically and mentally handicapped and one accompanying person (please present the handicapped person’s handbook when entering the building).
Official website https://habsburg2019.jp/en/#/

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【National Museum of Nature and Science】 Special supporter Takeshi Takeshi also appears! Special Exhibition “Mummy In Search of Eternal Life” Preview Report

National Museum of Nature and Science


From November 2, 2019 (Saturday) to February 24, 2020 (Monday, National Holiday), the National Museum of Nature and Science is holding a special exhibition “In Search of Eternal Life” . I participated in a media preview, and this time I will tell you about it!

The largest in Japan! "Science" mummy exhibition

Precious mummy gathers from all over the world
Exhibiting children's mummy from about 5,200 years ago with elaborate CG
One of the highlights is the bowl that holds the mummy. Egyptian gods are painted in vivid colors
Cat mummy. The cat was an incarnation of the love goddess Bastet in Egypt and was respected
Oceania's “Portrait Skull”. Meat the skull with clay or resin to reproduce the face before life
An unusual Japanese mummy is also on display. This is a brother mummy from the Edo period

"Scared" "Uncomfortable" … Some people might look at the mummy and grin unexpectedly.
But at least many of the readers of this article have a fundamental “curiosity” beyond a certain interest, likes and dislikes about mummy.

Why did people make mummy? There is a deep connection with the environment surrounding the people who lived at that time, the view of life and death, and the view of religion.

Mummy has not attracted much academic interest for a long time due to its scarcity, but the information that can be extracted by the recent science and technology has increased dramatically, and the mummy has been re-investigated and the development of storage methods has been renewed. It is broken.
In this exhibition, we will explain the mummy from all over the world, various cultures and views of life and death, and the actual image of the mummy that has been revealed scientifically. South America, Egypt, Oceania, Japan … Through the 43 mummy gathered from all over the world, we introduce the various views of life and body that human beings have.

Mummy from all over the world gathers in “Kahaku”!

《Mummy of men crossing arms》 Egypt, details unknown Unknown 410 BC-c. 250 BC

Mummy with genitals attached? !

Greco-Roman era, ruled by Gilshas and Romans. Even after the ancient Egyptian religion was considered heresy, mummies were made in a simpler way. This is a male mummy with a distinct pose that crosses arms, which has been a trend since the New Kingdom. The state of preservation is good, and if you look up close, you can feel the freshness of the facial expression.

According to a CT scan survey, this mummy is a 35-40 year old man. The brain is removed from the nose, the internal organs are removed by incising the left flank, and the body is filled with bags containing linen and natron. Characteristically, the male genitalia made of linen is attached, which is based on the myth of Osiris and is related to the concept of regeneration and resurrection.

Wemeringen, Drenthe, Bourtang Wetlands 40 BC-circa 50

First public release in Japan! Mysterious two mummy

European culture has little custom of preserving bodies as mummies, and most of the discovered mummies are “natural mummies”. Here are two wetland bodies found in the Bortung Marshland in the Netherlands in 1904.

Two mummy that seems to hold hands. In an extreme state, I can imagine that it is a couple who died while staying close together, but it turns out that both are actually men. Unfortunately, it seems that the relationship between the two has not been elucidated due to poor DNA preservation, and there are still many mysteries.

"Mummy of herbologists" Japan circa 1832

National scholar who made himself an “experimental table”

A Japanese mummy that keeps its original appearance from appearance, body shape and skin texture. This person is a herbologist of the Edo period (modern natural history and pharmacology). In order to confirm his research results, he devised a method for preserving his body and said, “If you have a chance in future generations, dig out.” It seems to have been told. In other words, you have become a mummy with your own will (!) From an academic pursuit.

The skin has a reddish brown color, but this may have been due to the effects of tannins in the seeds of cocoons because it was found that they had consumed a large amount of "seed seeds" just before their death. How did he succeed in mummyizing himself? Unfortunately, no specific method has been reported.

Special supporter Beat Takeshi also appears!

In addition, Beat Takeshi, a special supporter of this exhibition, also appeared at the preview. Takeshi who visited the exhibition hall with the curator

“When I became a mummy, I saw a mummy (the herbologist's mummy) and trembled. It ’s a great spiritual world. Is unknown and something that can't be done "

And enthusiastic about the cultural value of the mummy, which retains clues from the ancient times. In addition, he mentioned that there was an era of burning mummies in the past, appealed for the importance of spreading education that valued cultural heritage early,

“After all, I want the children to see it. It ’s important to be interested in something and want to know more. In the current era, there are searches such as Google, but the real thing is still photos No, there are strange gears. "

He talked about the significance of this exhibition.


Real image of the mummy revealed by the latest science. Mummy is a “traveler from the past” that tells us the culture and history of people who lived in the past and various “feelings”.

“Mummy seeking for eternal life” will be held until February 24, 2020 (Monday / Holiday). Please come to the venue and listen to the words spoken by mummy from all ages and regions.

Outline

Exhibition name Special Exhibition “In Search of Eternal Life”
Session From Saturday, November 2, 2019 to Monday, February 24, 2020
9am-5pm (Friday and Saturday until 8pm)
Until November 3 (Sunday / Holiday) 8:00 pm
November 4th (Mon / Close) Until 6pm
* Admission until 30 minutes before each closing time
closing day Monday (Tuesday if Monday is a public holiday)
And December 28 (Sat)-January 1 (Wednesday / Holiday)
However, it is open on February 17 (Monday)
* Opening hours and closed days are subject to change.
Venue National Museum of Nature and Science
Admission fee General / university students Advance 1,500 yen On the day 1,700 yen
Group Advance 500 yen 600 yen on the day
・ Free for preschoolers. Free for those who have a disability certificate and one caregiver.
・ This exhibition will not be available on Friday / Saturday limited pair tickets.
・ Persons viewing this exhibition with this ticket can also see permanent exhibitions (Ground Hall and Japan Hall) on the same day.
Official site http://www.tbs.co.jp/miira2019/

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