A Leonardo da Vinci masterpiece is in perfect shape after travelling to Japan amid concerns about loaning such an important work.
"The painting is in absolutely perfect condition," quipped Florence conservation expert Roberto Boddi, who accompanied Leonardo's Annunciation from Florence's Uffizi Gallery to Tokyo despite recently breaking an arm.
"Better me than her," he said, referring to the picture of the Virgin Mary getting the news that she will be Jesus's mother.
The priceless work was taken out of its special shipping container and put up in Japan's National Museum for a three-month stint as the centrepiece of an Italian cultural and trade showcase, 'Primavera Italiana 2007', (Italian Spring).
It will be the star attraction at a show called Leonardo's Mind, curated by Japanese art expert Yoichi Inoue.
Referring to widespread protests against the painting being allowed to leave Italy, Italian Ambassador to Japan Mario Bova said it showed how much Italians were attached to their artistic heritage.
He said the successful end to the Annunciation's first intercontinental journey had paved the way for other major works.
The painting travelled from Italy to Japan in a high-tech packing case including Japanese-made sensors to detect any variation in position, temperature and humidity.
It also had a 'black box' which has been sent back to Florence to check for any variations undetected by the naked eye.
The Annunciation, which has been insured for 100 million euros, has been housed in a special glass and aluminium frame in the same room that welcomed the Mona Lisa in the 1970s.
Around 30,000 visitors a day are expected to admire it, walking up to the masterpiece around a specially designed spiral platform.
The show will be inaugurated on Monday by Italian Culture Minister Francesco Rutelli and Imperial Prince Hitachi, patron of Japanese arts and sciences.
The Annunciation has left the Uffizi three times before: for Paris and Milan in the 1930s and for safekeeping during the Second World War.
The Annunciation, one of Leonardo's early masterpieces, has been one of the top draws at the Uffizi since it moved there from a private collection in the mid-19th century.
Leonardo (1452-1519) probably painted it in 1472-75, when he was barely out of his teens.
Despite this, experts say it has a similar impact to mature masterpieces like the Mona Lisa and the Last Supper.
