The Newly Discovered Portrait of ITO MANCIO, a Japanese Ambassador to Europe
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Portrait of Ito Mancio (detail), By Domenico Tintoretto, Dated 1585 (Fondazione Trivulzio - Milano)
Japanese Gallery (Honkan) Room 7
May 17, 2016 (Tue) - July 10, 2016 (Sun)In celebration of the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Italy, we are displaying for the first time ever the portrait of Ito Mancio, a member of the Tensho Embassy to Europe-the first "bridge" between Japan and Italy. In March 2014, a newly-discovered portrait of Mancio by the painter Domenico Tintoretto was unveiled by the Trivulzio Foundation of Milan. This portrait was a discovery of great historical significance, providing evidence that the embassy had been officially welcomed in Venice and that Tintoretto has indeed created oil portraits, the existence of which had been known only through historical documents.
In addition to the portrait of Mancio, this Special Viewing features Concerning the Voyage of Four Young Japanese Men to Rome (Important Cultural Property), a book published in Italy to report the doings of the Tensho Embassy.
Current exhibit includes:
Portrait of Ito Mancio, By Domenico Tintoretto, Dated 1585 (Fondazione Trivulzio - Milano)
Relatione del viaggio, et arrivo in Evropa, et Roma, de' prencipi giapponesi (“Concerning the Voyage of Four Young Japanese Men to Rome”), Published in Reggio, Italy, Dated 1585 (Important Cultural Property)
Three Saints, Formerly owned by Nagasaki Magistrate Office, Europe, 16th-17th century (Important Cultural Property)
Three Saints (Copy), Formerly owned by Nagasaki Magistrate Office, Azuchi-Momoyama - Edo period, 16th-17th century (Important Cultural Property)
Madonna (Madonna of the Thumb), Formerly owned by Nagasaki Magistrate Office, Italy, late 17th century (Important Cultural Property)