[Osaka Municipal Museum of Fine Arts] All tickets sold out in two days! We went to the much talked about special exhibition "Atlas of the Sky: Treasures from the Italian Pavilion"!

The Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts' special exhibition, "Atlas in the Sky: Treasures of the Italian Pavilion," opened on the 25th of this month. Tickets sold out within two days of going on sale, and I finally made it on the 26th. 👏

The exhibition celebrates the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Japan and Italy in 2026, and the treasures from the Italian Pavilion, which were so popular at the Expo, are carried on to the next chapter as a testament to this friendship. 🤝

The Italian Pavilion, which features masterpieces from ancient to modern times under the theme "Art Renews Life," selected three pieces from the exhibits embodying the universal human themes of "Universe," "Faith," "Justice," and "Knowledge." 🇮🇹

First and foremost is the "Farnese Atlas." This marble sculpture, approximately 2 meters tall and weighing approximately 2 tons, depicts the giant god Atlas from Greek mythology.

After being discovered in the ruins of the Baths of Caracalla in Rome around 1546, this statue was long displayed in the palace of the famous aristocratic Farnese family, hence the name "Farnese Atlas." ✍️

Atlas is holding a celestial globe on his shoulder. It's said to represent Atlas's role as a figure holding up the celestial globe, ordered by Zeus to do so as punishment for losing a battle with the Olympian gods. 🌎

The globe is decorated with ancient Greek constellations, including the twelve zodiac signs familiar from astrology. Trying to find your own constellation is one way to enjoy it. I even found Scorpio! ♏

While the limbs were added in the 16th century, the celestial globe, torso, and part of the face date back to the 2nd century (around 150 AD), which is quite impressive. Not only his sculpting skills, but his astronomy skills are also exceptional! 😳

The next room featured the religious painting "The Banner of Justice" by Pietro Vannucci, also known as Perugino, a "godlike painter" active at the end of the 15th century. 🖼

Perugino, who was based in Perugia, studied alongside Botticelli and Da Vinci at Verrocchio's workshop in Florence, and gained popularity for his elegant and gentle religious paintings.

In 1479, he was invited by Pope Sixtus IV to participate in the creation of the murals for the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. Raphael also graduated from his workshop. ☝️

This masterpiece, painted for a procession for a religious community in Perugia, expresses deep faith and spirituality. The background features a meticulous recreation of the Perugian landscape of the time. 🏰

In the same room, a replica costume closely resembling that of Tintoretto's "Portrait of Ito Mancio" is also on display. All tailoring is done by hand, with the ruffled collar reportedly requiring over 6,000 stitches. 🪡

The final room displays the "Codices Atlanticus," the crystallization of wisdom left behind by the "universal genius" Leonardo da Vinci. As this was its first public showing in Japan, the waiting line to see it was incredible. 😵

Leonardo, who pursued knowledge as an artist, scientist, inventor, and thinker, wrote down his research and ideas in a massive manuscript over a period of approximately 40 years. ✍️

The Codices are the largest surviving manuscripts, containing a wide range of considerations and sketches on subjects such as mathematics, geometry, astronomy, zoology, botany, physics, architecture, civil engineering, and military technology.

Of the 1,119 sheets, two were on display this time: Leaflet No. 156, "Apparatus for Pumping Water and Cutting Screws," and Leaflet No. 1112, "Windmill and Hydraulic Pump." ✒️

The text on the manuscript is written in cursive mirror writing, which is said to prevent others from stealing his ideas. Another distinctive feature is that the text is written from right to left.

This is said to be because Leonardo was originally left-handed, and he never received formal education or had the opportunity to be corrected. Being left-handed myself, I feel like a genius, too. 🥰

Although the number of exhibits was limited, each piece was explained in detail, allowing me to concentrate on the works (though I couldn't see the manuscripts), which I thought was a better experience than the World Expo. ✨️

The shop didn't have any official merchandise or catalogs, but they did sell Italian sweets and related books. There's also an Atlas face-in panel on the first floor, so be sure to check it out as a souvenir! 📸

Tickets for designated dates and times are sold out, so those who purchased tickets without a reservation will have to wait in line without a reservation. Since wait times are unknown, it's best to arrive early.

I also got to see the opening video for the Italian Pavilion at the Expo, and personally, I found the exhibition easier to understand and enjoy than the Expo itself. If you have a ticket, please enjoy it at your leisure. 🇮🇹

⁡【 𝕀𝕟𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕞𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕠𝕟 】⁡
🗓 Wednesday, October 25, 2025 - Monday, January 12, 2026
📍 Osaka City Museum of Fine Arts / 1-82 Chausuyama-cho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture (inside Tennoji Park)
⁡🚶♀️ Approximately 5 minutes from JR/Osaka Metro Tennoji Station and Kintetsu Osaka Abenobashi Station
🕘 9:30 AM - 5:00 PM (last admission 4:30 PM) *Reservations required for specific dates and times
🚫 Mondays (or the following weekday if a holiday falls on a Monday), December 29th - January 2nd

⁡． ⁡
⁡． #Osaka Prefecture
⁡#Osaka City, Osaka Prefecture
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⁡#EXPO2025
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#Kansai Trip
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#Limited-Time Event