Until June 26

During the 17th century, illustrations of plants were mostly drawn for medicinal and botanical research rather than as works of art. The particularly detailed renderings of flora by botanist and painter Pierre-Joseph Redoute, however, gained him recognition as an artist as well as the nickname "Raphael of flowers." He became the official court artist of Queen Marie Antoinette and collected and illustrated more than 1,800 species of plants.

The Museum of Modern Art, Gunma, has handpicked 144 of Redoute's works to showcase, including the Dutch painter's most famous watercolors of roses and lilies.

Museum of Modern Art, Gunma; Gunma-no-mori Park, 992-1 Watanuki-machi, Takasaki, Gunma. Takasaki Stn. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. ¥820. Closed Mon. 027-346-5560. www.mmag.pref.gunma.jp/english