Manuscripts from the Naito Collection in the National Museum of Western Art
National Museum Of Western Art, Tokyo
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In medieval Europe, where printing technology did not exist, manuscripts were the primary medium supporting people's faith and disseminating knowledge. Manuscripts were created by painstakingly copying texts by hand onto paper made from the thinly processed skins of animals such as sheep and calves, requiring vast amounts of time and effort. These manuscripts sometimes became luxurious items, adorned with elaborate decorations and elevated to the status of fine art.
In 2015, the museum received a collection of manuscript leaves (individual pages detached from manuscripts) donated by Professor Emeritus Hiroshi Naito of the University of Tsukuba and Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences. Additionally, between 2015 and 2020, with support from Akio Naganuma, a friend of Professor Naito, 26 more manuscript leaves have been added to the collection.
During the 2019-2020 fiscal year, the museum introduced the Naito Collection through a series of three small exhibitions. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these exhibitions were necessarily limited in scale. Considering these circumstances, this new exhibition has been organized to showcase the majority of the Naito Collection, allowing visitors to view it comprehensively. Since receiving the collection, we have worked with experts from Japan and abroad to study each piece. This exhibition also serves as an opportunity to present the results of these investigations.
The exhibition consists of approximately 150 items, primarily from the Naito Collection, along with a few pieces from university libraries in Japan. It explores the roles and decorative features of manuscripts that were prevalent from the medieval to early modern periods, including Bibles, poetry collections, books of hours, and antiphonaries.
In 2015, the museum received a collection of manuscript leaves (individual pages detached from manuscripts) donated by Professor Emeritus Hiroshi Naito of the University of Tsukuba and Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences. Additionally, between 2015 and 2020, with support from Akio Naganuma, a friend of Professor Naito, 26 more manuscript leaves have been added to the collection.
During the 2019-2020 fiscal year, the museum introduced the Naito Collection through a series of three small exhibitions. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, these exhibitions were necessarily limited in scale. Considering these circumstances, this new exhibition has been organized to showcase the majority of the Naito Collection, allowing visitors to view it comprehensively. Since receiving the collection, we have worked with experts from Japan and abroad to study each piece. This exhibition also serves as an opportunity to present the results of these investigations.
The exhibition consists of approximately 150 items, primarily from the Naito Collection, along with a few pieces from university libraries in Japan. It explores the roles and decorative features of manuscripts that were prevalent from the medieval to early modern periods, including Bibles, poetry collections, books of hours, and antiphonaries.
Schedule | Jun 11 (Tue) 2024-Aug 25 (Sun) 2024 Opening Hours Information
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| Fee | Adults ¥1700; University Students ¥1300; High School Students ¥1000; Junior High School Students and Under, Persons with Disability Certificates + 1 Companion free. | ||||
| Website | https://www.nmwa.go.jp/en/exhibitions/2024manuscript.html | ||||
| Venue | National Museum Of Western Art, Tokyo https://www.nmwa.go.jp/en/ | ||||
| Location | 7-7 Ueno-Koen, Taito-ku, Tokyo 110-0007 | ||||
| Access | 1 minute walk from the Koen exit of JR Ueno Station, 7 minute walk from the Main exit of Keisei Ueno Station on the Keisei line. | ||||
| Phone | 050-5541-8600 (Hello Dial) |
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