Seven paintings from the series Les Tournesols by Vincent Van Gogh were placed in quarantine in Japan as part of the fight against the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus in the country. These paintings are part of a batch of 60 exceptional works of art loaned by the National Gallery in London to be exhibited at the National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo. Faced with the Covid-19 epidemic, the Japanese Ministry of Culture has closed all Japanese museums for at least two weeks, The Guardian reported on Friday.
The exhibition which was to open this Tuesday is therefore postponed to at least March 16. In the meantime, the dozens of European masterpieces are kept in an isolated area of the Tokyo establishment reserved for quarantine procedures. It was the first time in its history that Vincent Van Gogh's painting, painted at the end of the 19th century, left the Old Continent.
At least two weeks of quarantine
"We are in discussions with our partners," said the National Gallery in London. "We hope that the exhibition can open its doors on March 17, 2020, or as soon as possible after that date," she added.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has ordered the closure of all schools in the country until the end of March. Some 13 million students are affected by the measure. Four people died in Japan after being infected with the coronavirus. Six other patients died on board the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked in Yokohama.
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