National Museum of Western Art

The National Museum of Western Art (Japanese国立 西洋 美术馆, Kokuritsu seiyō Bijutsukan, English The National Museum of Western Art in short. NMWA ) is an art museum in Tokyo's district Taitō. It is home to European and North American art from the Middle Ages to the 20th century and is the largest of its kind in Asia.

History

Japan's only national museum of Western Art goes back to the art collection of Matsukata Kojiro. Its located in France collection was seized as enemy property during World War II. In the late 1950s gave France a part of this collection as a gesture of reconciliation to the Japanese people. For the 196 paintings, 80 drawings, 26 prints and 63 sculptures created from 1957 a new museum building in Ueno Park in Tokyo. Since the museum opened in the museum's collection has grown and the original focus of the collection with French artists of the second half of the 19th century could be supplemented by older works back to the Middle Ages and enhanced by works of the 20th century. Today, the collection includes about 2,000 works, which constitute a comprehensive overview of Western art history along with numerous temporary exhibitions.

Building

1957, plans for the newly built museum building under the direction of Le Corbusier. Together with Kunio Maekawa, Junzo Sakakura and Takamasa Yoshizaka a building was developed that was designed from the outset to flexible growth opportunities. Besides the first to harboring Matsukata Collection, the architects had planned space for future acquisitions. That after two years of construction in 1959 completed building has a square base. The concrete facades of the two-storey building will be broken up by each of a picture window facing balconies with staircases create connections to the surrounding of Ueno Park. Inside there is a central atrium from which a ramp leading to the gallery spaces on the first floor. Le Corbusier students Maekawa Kunio was completed in 1979, designed the expansion of the borders a courtyard with the main building. Another extension building from 1997 houses an auditorium and rooms for temporary exhibitions. At the same time a renovation of the existing building took place, which were reinforced on this occasion against earthquakes.

Collection

On the first floor of the main building can be seen today works of European painting from the early 15th to the late 18th century. The Italian painting is The Marriage of St. Catherine, Leandro Bassano's Last Judgment and Jacopo Tintoretto's Portrait of a Young Man as David represented by Giorgio Vasari Garden of Gethsemane, Paolo Veronese, as well as with Giovanni Francesco Barbieri's David with the head of Goliath, or a Mater Dolorosa Carlo Dolci. Other works in this department are a Lucretia by Guido Reni and a Madonna and Child with Three Saints by Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo. From Giovanni Battista Tiepolo, the museum has the Apotheosis of Admiral Vettor Pisani and by Pietro Longhi a portrait of a man. Among the artists of the Flemish and Dutch painting Joos van Cleve, who is represented with a Tritychon in the museum, whose middle panel shows the crucifixion of Christ and the side panels representing the donor couple belongs. From Bartholomeus Breenbergh a coastal landscape and Herman van Swanevelt a View of Rome with the Colosseum, Arch of Constantine and the Temple of Venus can be seen. In addition, by Joachim Beuckelaer Christ Carrying the Cross, Anthony van Dyck Portrait of Diego Felipe de Guzmán and of Peter Paul Rubens 's works abound as well as the representation of two sleeping children. The museum also shows the still life boy with soap bubbles by Gerard Dou, a village wedding of Jan Steen and different landscape views of Jacob van Ruysdael, Isaac van Ostade and Jan van Goyen. While the German painting is an example represented by the Garden of Gethsemane by Lucas Cranach the Elder, are examples of Spanish painting individual paintings by El Greco, Bartolomé Esteban Murillo and Jusepe de Ribera. The collection of paintings by Joshua Reynolds also shows the portrait of Robert d' Arcy and Richard Wilson an Italian landscape as evidence of British painting. To the larger collection of works of French artists a holy Thomas owned by Georges de La Tour, a Mary Magdalene by Philippe de Champaigne, the portrait of a young nobleman of Nicolas de Largillière, the rest of the soldiers of Jean- Baptiste Pater and the portrait of Madame Marie -Henriette de - Berthelet Pleuneuf by Jean -Marc Nattier. In addition, there are landscapes of Claude Lorrain, Nicolas Lancret, Jean- Honoré Fragonard, Hubert Robert and Claude -Joseph Vernet.

In cultivation in 1979, are the works of the 19th century and the modern era. The French painting of this period begins with works by Eugène Delacroix, Honoré Daumier and Jean -François Millet. By Jean -Baptiste Camille Corot, the museum has a view of Naples and Henri Fantin -Latour Still Life with a Carafe, Flowers and fruits. Five of works by Gustave Courbet can be seen in the museum, which includes a version of the wave. The painting of French Impressionism is a focus of the collection. In addition to a beach of Trouville view of the painter Eugène Boudin here are the works of boy in flowers and Monsieur Brun portrait by Édouard Manet at the beginning of this collection range. In addition, the Museum of Pierre- Auguste Renoir shows the pictures in the woods, Parisian in Algerian Costume and Woman with Hat, by Camille Pissarro a winter landscape, harvesting and entertainment as well as by Alfred Sisley a landscape at Louveciennes. Due to the friendship of the collector Matsukata with the painter Claude Monet these artists is represents the most with 16 plants. In addition to numerous landscapes here are two views of London highlight. Smaller working groups are also available from Paul Gauguin, Pierre Bonnard and Maurice Denis. Individual paintings the museum owns also by Vincent van Gogh, Paul Cézanne, John Everett Millais, Emile Auguste Carolus- Duran, Giovanni Segantini, Dante Gabriel Rossetti, Gustave Moreau, Pierre Puvis de Chavannes and Paul Signac.

Among the most important names of artists of the 20th century, of which the museum can show in their exhibits, including Kees van Dongen, Georges Rouault, Maurice de Vlaminck and Chaim Soutine as well as André Derain and Max Ernst. Further work by Fernand Léger, Joan Miró, Jean Dubuffet, Pablo Picasso and Jackson Pollock are seen.

In addition, the museum has an extensive collection of drawings and prints. Among these are works by Dürer, Holbein, Rembrandt, Piranesi, Goya and Klinger.

On the ground floor of the main building of the many located in possession of the museum Sculptures by Auguste Rodin are seen. With 58 works, the museum has one of the best collections of this artist. In the sculpture garden, bronze casts of his famous work The Thinker, The Burghers of Calais, The Gates of Hell are seen.

Exhibited Works

Lucas Cranach the Elder: The Garden of Gethsemane

Peter Paul Rubens: Two sleeping children

Gustave Courbet: The wave

Édouard Manet: Portrait of Monsieur Brun

Claude Monet: Poplars in the Sun

Pierre- Auguste Renoir: Woman with Rose

Paul Signac: The port of Saint -Tropez