Jul. 06, 2026Marubeni Corporation
Marubeni is pleased to announce that the upcoming Marubeni Gallery exhibition, “La Bella Simonetta” Depicted in the Literary Works of Italy and Japan, Commemorating the 160th Anniversary of the Signing of the Japan-Italy Treaty of Amity and Commerce and the 550th Anniversary of the Death of Simonetta, will be held from August 6 to September 30, 2026.
Exhibition Overview:This exhibition, held with the support of the Embassy of Italy in Japan, commemorates the 160th anniversary of the Japan-Italy Treaty of Amity and Commerce and 550th anniversary of the death of Simonetta Vespucci. The exhibition will feature the special public display of the only tempera painting by Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510) in Japan, La Bella Simonetta, from the Marubeni Collection.
In Botticelli’s era, paintings served not only as a depiction of the visible world, but also as a means of enabling a glimpse into what lies beyond human sight. In addition to the painting La Bella Simonetta itself, this exhibition primarily examines two works of literature depicting Simonetta—the poet Angelo Poliziano’s Stanze per la giostra (“Stanzas for the Jousting Tournament”) from Italy and Tsuji Kunio’s historical novel Haru no Taikan (“The Coronation of Spring”) from Japan—as well as Botticelli’s masterpiece Primavera (“The Spring”), exploring the ideas expressed therein.
In his remarks on the exhibit, His Excellency Mario Andrea Vattani, Ambassador of Italy to Japan, commented, “This exhibition demonstrates that culture is not merely the preservation of memory. It is a living bridge between peoples. I am confident that visitors will discover not only the beauty of Botticelli’s works, particularly Simonetta, but also a deeper appreciation of the enduring cultural dialogue that continues to unite Italy and Japan.”
Exhibition Details:
About the Marubeni Gallery:Designed under the concept of “a space where the aesthetics of the East and West in ancient and modern times resonate with each other,” the Marubeni Gallery is a facility where Marubeni’s art collection is on display to the public. Marubeni’s art collection consists of the three main categories: textiles (such as kimono, Noh robes, and fabric fragments), textile designs, and paintings. Since its founding in 1858, Marubeni has pursued the aesthetic beauty of Japan through its textile business. This resulted in the collection and preservation of ancient textile products (such as kimono, obi, and silk gift-wrapping cloth) and designs primarily from the 17th to mid-19th centuries—the first and second pillars of the collection. Gaining contacts in the art world through this pursuit of textile designs, Marubeni also acquired modern Japanese paintings through art dealers or from the artists themselves. Later, in the 1960s and 70s, Marubeni expanded into the international art business, acquiring Western paintings as well. Together, these Japanese and Western paintings form the third pillar of the collection. Since its opening in 2021, the Marubeni Gallery has featured rotating exhibitions on a variety of themes to share this collection and other works of historical and cultural value with the public.
Official Website: https://www.marubeni.com/gallery/en/Official Instagram: https://instagram.com/marubeni_gallery_officialOfficial Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marubeni.jp/
Future Exhibit (Tentative Title/Details):・Fashion Trends in the Edo Period (1603–1868): The Ever-Changing Splendor of Women’s Kimono (March to May, 2027)
