The National Museum of Western Art

Alongside the rise of humanism, classical mythology regained prominence in 15th- and 16th-century Italy. Stories of ancient gods and heroes were no longer viewed as relics of the past, but were reinterpreted as allegories conveying moral, philosophical and political meanings. As copperplate printing spread across the country, sophisticated images illustrating these tales circulated widely among educated audiences, helping to shape the visual language of court culture. The National Museum of Western Art’s ‘Myth, Allegory, and Celebration: Print Works and the Courts of Italy from the Renaissance to the Baroque’ explores the rich visual culture that flourished in the courts of Renaissance and Baroque Italy. Showcasing approximately 50 prints from the museum’s collection, the exhibition examines how mythology, allegory and public spectacle became intertwined within the intellectual and political life of the period. ‘Myth, Allegory, and Celebration’ also highlights decorative prints used as models for artists and craftsmen, revealing the role of printmaking in disseminating artistic ideas across regions. Particular attention is given to prints documenting court festivities, especially those of Medici Florence, where mythological imagery, heraldic symbols and elaborate celebrations projected political authority and cultural prestige.  Through these remarkable works, visitors are invited to discover how printmaking served as a powerful instrument for shaping identity, memory and...

Joseph Mallord William Turner (1775–1851) stands as one of the most radical and influential figures in the history of Western painting. A leading force of 19th-century British art, Turner transformed landscape painting through his visionary treatment of light, atmosphere and colour, pushing representation toward the threshold of abstraction. Often called the ‘painter of light’, his audacious experiments with form and luminosity anticipated Impressionism and continue to resonate with artists today. Revered as a national icon in Britain, where his image now appears on the £20 note, Turner remains a symbol of artistic innovation and poetic intensity. The substance of ‘Painting the Sublime, in Dialogue with Contemporary Art’ at the National Museum of Western Art is drawn from the Tate in London, home to the world’s most comprehensive Turner collection. Featuring more than 40 oil paintings alongside over 40 works on paper, including watercolours and gouaches, the exhibition offers a sweeping view of Turner’s career, from dramatic seascapes and Alpine visions to luminous studies of Venice and history. Organised thematically in a loose chronological flow, the exhibition introduces a distinctive curatorial approach by placing Turner’s works in dialogue with selected pieces by contemporary artists. These juxtapositions illuminate how Turner’s exploration of the sublime continues to echo across time, shaping artistic inquiry today. Note that admission to the exhibition is free for...