Each bookstore will act as a concierge, recommending "the book you should read now" to FASHION HEADLINE readers. Every Thursday, each branch of the art bookstore "NADiff" will introduce a recommended book. This time, we'll be introducing the Aichi/Nagoya branch, NADiff Aichi (1-13-2 Higashisakura, Higashi-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, Aichi Arts Center B2F).

■ "Golden Legend" Exhibition

This book is the official catalog for the exhibition of the same name currently being held at the Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art (Higashi-ku, Nagoya). The "Golden Legend" exhibition displays approximately 280 gold masterpieces from ancient civilizations in the Mediterranean region, along with paintings featuring gold as a theme.

The exhibition is divided into four chapters, with Chapter 1, "The World's Oldest Gold," set in the world of mythology and the Black Sea coast. The world's oldest gold, dating back approximately 6,000 years, was unearthed in Bulgaria in the 1970s, and the tomb where it was unearthed, along with its grave goods, is recreated on display. This major discovery in the 1970s sparked widespread interest, raising concerns that the legends often depicted in mythological gold paintings of the Renaissance may have been true.

Continuing in Chapters 2, "Ancient Greece," 3, "Thrace," and 4, "Etruria and Ancient Rome," the exhibition traces the history of the ancient Mediterranean through gold heritage and jewelry, offering insights into the lives and cultures of those times. The brilliance of most of the gold objects on display is so intact that it's hard to believe they were made before the Common Era, proving the exceptional stability of gold as a material. The intricate gold decorations showcase the advanced goldsmithing techniques developed in the ancient Mediterranean world, while also demonstrating how gold has captivated humanity as a symbol of wealth, power, and beauty.

Along with this book and related publications, Nadiff Aichi is also selling a selection of gold leaf goods, prints, and accessories and objects by artists.
【Book Information】
"Golden Legend" Exhibition
Authors: Aoyagi Masanori (Professor Emeritus, University of Tokyo), Iizuka Takashi, and others
Editors: Iizuka Takashi (Researcher, National Museum of Western Art), Tokyo Shimbun Cultural Affairs Department
Language: Japanese and English
307 pages / 251 x 205 mm
Published: October 2015
Price: 2,593 yen
【Exhibition Information】
"Golden Legend" Exhibition
Venue: Aichi Prefectural Museum of Art
Address: Aichi Arts Center 10F, 1-13-2 Higashisakura, Higashi-ku, Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture
Dates: April 1st - May 29th, 2016
Hours: 10:00 - 18:00 (Fridays until 20:00, last admission 30 minutes before closing)
Admission: Adults 1,400 yen, High school and university students 1,100 yen, free for junior high school students and younger Closed: Mondays