matsukata was well known as a good friend of claude monet. it has been reported that once, when monet offered him the opportunity to buy whatever he wanted in the studio at giverny, he purchased 18 paintings.[7] his other artist friends included frank brangwyn, who assisted matsukata in the acquisition of his collection. brangwyn designed a gallery, the so-called palace of shared pleasure, which matsukata intended to build in tokyo.