National Gallery sends 60 masterpieces to Japan for 2020 Olympics

The National Gallery in London will make its largest-ever loan of artworks, sending about 60 masterpieces to Japan for exhibitions timed with the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The show, titled "Masterpieces from the National Gallery, London," will run from March 3 to June 14 at the National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo, and from July 7 to October 18 at the National Museum of Art in Osaka. The loan spans works from the Italian Renaissance to the early 20th century, including Vincent van Gogh's "Sunflowers." The official list is expected in autumn. National Gallery director Gabriele Finaldi said the exhibition will share the collection with a new audience and inspire passion for great paintings in younger generations. UK Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Jeremy Wright noted that arts and culture strengthen friendships between nations and that the innovative show will bolster the National Gallery's international reputation. The loan means London visitors will not see van Gogh's "Sunflowers" and other works on the museum's walls for up to eight months.