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An engraved full-length portrait of Hasekura Tsunenaga wearing Japanese robes and swords, holding a letter and a rosary with a cross.

1615 · Engraving and book illustration

Portrait of Hasekura Tsunenaga

Raphaël Sadeler II

Why it matters

Hasekura's portrait combines a diplomatic letter, Japanese swords and dress, and Christian rosary. The mixed signs resist any account in which Japanese visitors merely became Europeanised images.

Publication
Historia del regno di Voxu
Holding institution
Rijksmuseum
Shelfmark
RP-P-OB-7617
Rights
Public Domain; Rijksmuseum

Citation

Sadeler, Raphaël II. Portrait of Hasekura Tsunenaga. 1615. Engraving. Rijksmuseum, RP-P-OB-7617.

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