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Complete View of the Palace in Kyoto on the Occasion of the Enthronement Ceremony (Gosokui shiki Kyôto gosho zenzu), from the series Commemorating the Imperial Ceremonies (Gotairei kinen)

(Japanese, 1874–1946)
(Japanese)
1915 (Taishô 4), printed November 5, published November 10
Medium/TechniqueColor lithograph; ink on paper
Dimensions39.5 x 54.5 cm (15 9/16 x 21 7/16 in.)
Credit LineJean S. and Frederic A. Sharf Collection
Accession number2008.514
On View
Not on view
ClassificationsPrints
Description
The city of Kyoto had been the capital of Japan from 794 to 1868; the first two enthronements of the 20th century, in 1915 and 1928, were both held at the old imperial palace. This bird’s-eye view shows the palace in the center of Kyoto, laid out on a north-south axis, with the mountains that surround the city on three sides rising in the distance. The mounted guards on the street outside wear modern uniforms, but everyone inside the palace is dressed in the courtly finery of centuries past. The only clue that this is a modern scene is the presence of the lightning rods installed to help to protect the wooden buildings from the danger of fire.
ProvenancePurchased by Fred Sharf; 2008, given by Fred Sharf to the MFA