The Hakone Garasunomori Museum (Hakone Museum of Glass) will hold a special exhibition commemorating its 30th anniversary, “Venetian Glass in Paintings: The Hakone Garasunomori Museum Collection,” from Saturday, July 18, 2026 to Monday, January 11, 2027 (national holiday). Highlights include a modern recreation of the “phantom vase” painted by Leonardo da Vinci and a free audio guide by art-history VTuber Juufuutei Raden of hololive production.

A Modern Master Recreates the “Phantom Vase” Painted by Da Vinci

The Madonna of the Carnation, painted by Leonardo da Vinci around 1475, depicts a colorless, transparent vase considered difficult to realize with the technology of the time. Long thought to be one of da Vinci’s “imaginary glass vessels,” this vase is brought back to life in the modern day at this exhibition.

The recreation was supervised by glass-art historian Rosa Barovier Mentasti, with special cooperation from Davide Fuin, a maestro of the Venetian island of Murano. Five historical works, including the “phantom vase,” are recreated and exhibited for the modern day.

Art-History VTuber “Juufuutei Raden” Provides the Free Audio Guide

Another highlight is the audio guide by Juufuutei Raden, a hololive production VTuber who holds a curator qualification. The narration consists of 10 tracks totaling about 15 minutes, and during the exhibition period visitors can listen for free from their own smartphones at the venue.

With a VTuber deeply versed in art history providing the commentary, the exhibition offers a viewing experience that is approachable even for those encountering the history of Venetian glass for the first time.

Tracing the History of “Venetian Glass in Paintings” Across Five Chapters

The exhibition is structured to trace craft history using “Venetian glass depicted in Western paintings” as a guide. It presents about 100 masterpieces from the museum’s collection and 22 reproduction paintings from fresh perspectives across five chapters.

Beginning with Chapter 1, “The Venetian Glass Painters Fell in Love With,” and moving through the golden age (15th–16th centuries), glass in still-life paintings (17th–18th centuries), the glass of banquets, and finally decline and revival (19th–20th centuries), it traces the drama of Venetian glass from both the painting and the glassware sides.

Looking Ahead: A 30th-Anniversary Special Site and a Roughly Half-Year Run

As a special exhibition marking a milestone for the museum, which celebrates its 30th anniversary in August 2026, the show runs for about half a year, through January 11, 2027. It is organized by the Hakone Garasunomori Museum and Hakone Glass Forest Resort Co., Ltd. of the Daikoku Denki Group, and co-hosted by The Mainichi Newspapers.

The latest information will continue to be released in stages on the 30th-anniversary special page and the exhibition special site.

Impressions and Outlook

Casting a VTuber to handle a museum’s audio guide symbolizes how VTuber culture—often discussed within the anime and gaming spheres until now—is expanding its stage into the realms of “knowledge,” such as art and education. The expertise of Juufuutei Raden, who holds a curator qualification, not only deepens visitors’ viewing experience but also looks set to serve as a pathway drawing younger generations into the museum. As a fine example of a regional cultural facility collaborating with a VTuber, this is a development worth watching for similar future initiatives.

Source: PR TIMES