Marubeni Gallery to Host Special Exhibition Commemorating the 160th Anniversary of the Japan-Italy Treaty of Amity and Commerce & the 550th Anniversary of Simonetta Vespucci's Death: "Beauty of Simonetta Depicted in Literary Works of Italy and Japan"

Marubeni Corporation will hold a special exhibition titled "Beauty of Simonetta Depicted in Literary Works of Italy and Japan" (hereinafter referred to as "the Exhibition") at the Marubeni Gallery from August 6 to September 30, 2026.

About the Exhibition

This exhibition is a special project commemorating the 160th anniversary of the Japan-Italy Treaty of Amity and Commerce and the 550th anniversary of Simonetta Vespucci's death, with the support of the Embassy of Italy in Japan. The exhibition will feature the public display of "La Bella Simonetta," a tempera painting by Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510), which is the only work of its kind owned by Marubeni in Japan.

Paintings from Botticelli's era served not only to capture the visible world but also as a means to glimpse the invisible. This exhibition focuses on two literary works featuring Simonetta: "Stanze per la giostra" by the Italian poet Poliziano and "The Coronation of Spring" by the Japanese novelist Kunio Tsuji, as well as Botticelli's masterpiece "Primavera (Spring)," exploring the ideas depicted within these works.

<Exhibition Overview>

Dates: August 6 (Thu), 2026 – September 30 (Wed), 2026

*For details, please check the "Special Exhibitions" information on the Marubeni Gallery website.

Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Last admission at 4:30 PM)

Closed: Sundays and Public Holidays

Admission Fee: General ¥500

*For details, please check the "Visitor Information" on the Marubeni Gallery website.

Organizer: Marubeni Gallery

Sponsor: Embassy of Italy in Japan

<Marubeni Gallery Overview>

Marubeni Corporation's "Marubeni Collection" comprises textiles from earlier periods, primarily the Edo period (kimonos, Noh costumes, fabrics, etc.), textile designs, Western paintings acquired during its involvement in the art business in the 1960s-70s, and modern Japanese paintings collected through artists and art dealers, all of which have been collected and preserved through its textile-related business that continues from its founding (1858) to the present day. The Marubeni Gallery, opened in 2021, operates under the concept of "a space where ancient and modern beauties resonate," holding exhibitions on various themes, primarily featuring the Marubeni Collection.

Official Website: https://www.marubeni.com/gallery/

Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marubeni_gallery_official

Official Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marubeni.jp/

<Upcoming Special Exhibitions (Planned)>

・Fashion in the Edo Period -The Colorful Transition of Women's Kimonos- (tentative) (Around March-May 2027)