Masterpieces from the Tokyo National Museum now viewable on Google Art Project

Through Google Art Project, masterpieces from the TNM collection such as the National Treasures Maple Viewers and Fugen Bosatsu (Samantabhadra) can be seen as high-resolution images along with Street View images of the Honkan and the Gallery of Horyuji Treasures.

Google Art Project is an online service from Google, available through the internet.
Together with high-resolution images of artworks from around the world, interior views of museums can be seen in Street View format.
As of April 2012, over 30,000 artworks from a total of 151 museums from the United States, Europe, Asia, and South America are viewable online.
From Japan, images of artworks and museum interiors are available from TNM and five other museums. These are Adachi Museum of Art, Ohara Museum of Art, The National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo, Suntory Museum of Art, and Bridgestone Museum of Art.

Google Art Project


●105 masterpieces from the TNM collection on view as high-resolution images in "Artworks View"


●View masterpieces in super high resolution: seven billion pixels Maple Viewers (National Treasure, by Kano Hideyori, Muromachi - Azuchi-Momoyama period, 16th century) was photographed in a super high resolution of seven billion pixels, enabling viewers to study the smallest details such as the delicate brushwork, which cannot be seen with the naked eye.

（Click image to enlarge）


●A virtual visit to the museum through "Museum View" Tokyo National Museum's Honkan galleries and the Gallery of Horyuji Treasures can be viewed through Google’s Street View technology. Viewers can move around freely in the galleries with a 360-degree field of visibility. Descriptions and enlarged views of artworks can be seen by clicking the titles appearing on the screen in Street View.
Honkan on Street View (click to enlarge)	The Gallery of Horyuji Treasures on Street View

Street View image near the entrance of Room 11, Honkan	Approaching Seated Monju Bosatsu (Manjusri) and Standing Attendants (Important Cultural Property)
Front view of Seated Monju Bosatsu (Manjusri) and Standing Attendants	By Street View, Seated Monju Bosatsu (Manjusri) and Standing Attendants can also be seen from the sides.