The National Museum of Western Art is currently holding the "Naito Collection Manuscripts - A Very Elegant Microcosm of the Middle Ages" exhibition, where you can enjoy the beauty of medieval decorative art in which text and pictures are integrated. The exhibition will run until Sunday, August 2024, 8.

In medieval Europe, where printing technology did not exist, manuscripts were the main medium for supporting people's faith and transmitting knowledge. Manuscripts, which were produced by hand copying text onto paper made from thinly processed animal skins such as sheep and calves, took an enormous amount of time and effort to produce, and sometimes became extremely luxurious items. Some manuscripts were even lavishly decorated, elevating them to the level of first-class works of art.

This exhibition will feature approximately 150 items, including those from the Naito Collection, which consists mainly of manuscript leaves (leaflets: individual sheets of paper separated from a book) donated by Naito Hirofumi, professor emeritus of the University of Tsukuba and Ibaraki Prefectural University of Health Sciences, as well as a small number of items from university libraries around the country.

The exhibition is divided into nine chapters, and displays include the Bible leaves that are representative of the Naito Collection, ornately decorated manuscripts for the Divine Office, the Book of Hours that was used in worship and is known as the "best-seller of the Middle Ages" because it was the most widely copied book of the Middle Ages, as well as the few secular manuscripts that are part of the Naito Collection. These display the role of manuscripts, which were widespread in the Middle Ages, and their characteristics, characterized by their vivid colors and playful decorations.

This is the first large-scale manuscript exhibition at the National Museum of Western Art, where the majority of the works in the "Naito Collection" are on display. Why not step into the "microcosm of the Middle Ages," the beauty of illuminated art that is linked to the function of books and combines text and pictures?

◆"Naito Collection Manuscripts — A very elegant medieval microcosm."
[Date] Currently being held2024Years8Month25Sun (Sun)
[Venue] National Museum of Western Art, Special Exhibition Room (Ueno Park, Taito-ku, Tokyo) 7 - 7）
[Opening hours]9:30~17:30(Friday and Saturday 20:00 ■Admission is closed30minutes ago
[Closed] Mondays,7Month16Sun (Tue)
However,7Month15Sunday (Monday/Holiday),8Month12Sunday (Monday/Closed),8Month13Open on Tuesdays
■For the latest information on opening hours and closing days, please check the "Announcements" page on the top page of the National Museum of Western Art's official website.
【Admission Fee: General1,700Yen, University student1,300yen, high school student1,000Yen
■Junior high school students and younger, people with physical and mental disabilities and their attendants1Free entry per person. Please present your student ID or proof of age, or your disability certificate upon entry.
■Students and faculty of member schools of the National Museum of Art Campus Members can enjoy this exhibition at1,100Yen, faculty and staff1,500Please present your student or faculty ID card and purchase a ticket at the museum ticket counter.
■The ticket for this exhibition also allows you to view the permanent exhibition on the day of your visit.
※ 8Month3Day(Sat)"Chatty"OKWe will hold a "Livid Saturday" on this day, during which admission to both the permanent and special exhibitions will be free.