National Treasure "Ban Dainagon Ekotoba" on Public Display in Full for the First Time in 10 Years: "Idemitsu Museum of Arts 60th Anniversary: Masterpieces from the Idemitsu Collection at Tokyo University of the Arts" Held at The University Art Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts
An exhibition celebrating the Idemitsu Museum of Arts' 60th anniversary will display the National Treasure "Ban Dainagon Ekotoba" in its entirety for the first time in 10 years, opening March 27, 2027, at The University Art Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts.Summary
The exhibition "Idemitsu Museum of Arts 60th Anniversary: Masterpieces from the Idemitsu Collection at Tokyo University of the Arts" will be held at The University Art Museum, Tokyo University of the Arts, from March 27 to May 23, 2027, commemorating the museum's 60th anniversary. The exhibition presents carefully selected Japanese and East Asian artworks from the Idemitsu Museum of Arts, which opened in 1966, with a rotation of works between the first and second halves of the show.
The centerpiece is the complete display of all three volumes of the National Treasure "Ban Dainagon Ekotoba" (12th century) for the first time in 10 years. The handscroll depicts the 866 fire at the Otenmon Gate, the conspiracy of Dainagon Tomo no Yoshio, and his downfall. The Idemitsu Museum suggests that the court painter Tokiwa Genji Mitsunaga, favored by Retired Emperor Go-Shirakawa, may have played a leading role in its creation.
The exhibition spans medieval to modern art. Highlights include the Important Cultural Property "Sotaku-bon Sanjurokkasen-e 'Kakinomoto no Hitomaro'" (13th century, attributed to Fujiwara no Nobuzane with calligraphy attributed to Go-Kyogoku Yoshitsune), Noami's "Shiki Kacho-zu Byobu" (1469), Hasegawa Tohaku's "Matsu ni Karasu, Yanagi ni Shirasagi-zu Byobu" (16th century), and Tawaraya Sotatsu's "Saigyo Monogatari Emaki" (1630) with calligraphy by Karasumaru Mitsuhiro. Edo-period works include Yosa Buson's "Sansui-zu Byobu" (1763), Ike no Taiga's "Juni-kagetsu Rigo Sansui-zu Byobu" (c. 1769), Maruyama Okyo's "Tora-zu" (1785), Uragami Gyokudo's "Soho Soun-zu" (18th–19th century), and Ito Jakuchu's "Choju Kaboku-zu Byobu" (18th century), a masterpiece from the former Price Collection.
Late Edo works include the Important Cultural Properties Kitagawa Utamaro's "Koromogae Bijin-zu" (19th century) and Sakai Hoitsu's "Fujin Raijin-zu Byobu" (19th century), along with Tanomura Chikuden's "Baika Shooku-zu" (1832) and Suzuki Kiitsu's "Sakura Kaede-zu Byobu" (19th century). The exhibition extends to modern and contemporary art with Georges Rouault's "Passion" (1935), Itaya Hazan's "Hokosai Jiki Kaki-mon Kabin" (c. 1928), and Sam Francis's "White Line" (1959), showcasing the breadth of the Idemitsu Collection across multiple eras and genres.
(Source：美術手帖)