Exhibition Outlines

Special Exhibition No.7 A Special Exhibition in Commemoration of the 400 years relations between Japan and the Netherlands -COURT AND COUNTRY IN 18TH CENTURY HOLLAND FROM THE DUTCH ROYAL COLLECTION- (2000/2/27 - 2000/4/9)

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COURT AND COUNTRY IN 18TH CENTURY HOLLAND FROM THE DUTCH ROYAL COLLECTION

This year represents an important milestone in the history of the Dutch-Japanese exchanges; it is exactly 400 years ago when the Dutch ship Liefde drifted into the waters off  Usuki in Oita in 1600 marking the start of the long-sustained relationships between Japan and the Netherlandes. A wide variety of events are now being planned to commemorate the historial occasion in many parts of the two countries.

As part of the celebratory programs, the Imperial Household of Japan and the Roya1 Family of the Netherlands have agreed to hold exchange exhibitions of their respective art collections. To start off, the Imperial Household Agency has the honor of holding an exhibition of the Dutch Royal Family’s collections under the title of Court and Country in 18th Century Holland. The royal families of Japan and the Netherlands have long been quite close to each other. In view of this fact, we find it uniquely meanigful and timely to hold an exhibition based on the Dutch Roya1 Family’s collections at San-nomaru Shozokan, the Museum of the Imperial Collections. In the meantime, a special exhibition centering around traditional dresses and costumes treasured in the Japanese Imperial Household is scheduled to be held at the National Het Loo Palace Museum from June through August.

The present exhibition focuses on the late 18th century, or the age of Prince William V, the direct forebear of the present-day Dutch Royal Family, and attempts to show the essence of the beauty and elegance of the dutch royal court culture as represented in a series of paintings and various craft items. The art works on display are some of the best specimens in their own fields produced in the period when the Dutch court culture was at its pinnacle of elegance.

Our sincerest hope is that this exhibition will provide an opportunity for the Japanese people to take a glimpse at the beauty of the Dutch court life and at the same time to deepen their understanding of Dutch culture as a whole. We also ardently hope that this exhibition will prove an additional occasion to further strengthen the friendly ties between the royal families of Japan and the Nether1ands and to further promote the cultural and other exchanges between the two countries.