The collections at this immense gallery rival those
of any art museum in the world, displaying milestones of western art
from the Middle Ages through to the 20th century, including Italian
Renaissance works, Dutch Masters, French Impressionists, and all ages of
American art. John Russell Pope designed the harmonious Neo-Classical
West Building in 1941. The newer East Building is the work of architect
IM Pei and it is often considered a work of art in itself.
3rd–9th Sts at Constitution Avenue NW 202 737 4215
www.nga.gov
Open 10am–5pm Mon–Sat, 11am–6pm Sun; closed Dec 25, Jan 1 Free Dis. access
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The first floor
contains European paintings and sculpture, and American art. The ground
floor displays works on paper, sculpture, decorative arts, and temporary
exhibits. The location of works changes periodically. An underground
concourse leads to the East Building.
East Building
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The Cascade Café,
on the concourse between the West and East Buildings, has an espresso
bar with gelato, sandwiches, and other treats.
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The East Garden Court on the
main floor of the West Building is a wonderful place to relax, away
from the constant stream of tourists.
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Top 10 PaintingsGinevra de’ Benci The
careful modeling of lustrous flesh against juniper foliage make this
Leonardo da Vinci canvas of 1474, his only one in the US, a lively but
composed work. The Adoration of the Magi This
festive view of the Magi at Christ’s birthplace was painted in tempura
on a circular panel by Fra Angelico and Filippo Lippi in about 1445.
Girl with the Red Hat This
1665 portrait shows off Johannes Vermeer’s striking use of color:
yellow highlights in the blue robe, purple under the hat, turquoise in
the eyes. The luminosity is enhanced by the smooth panel base.
The Alba Madonna Unusually,
the Madonna in Raphael’s 1510 work is shown seated on the ground. The
composition is serene, but it shows Christ accepting the cross from St
John the Baptist, a precursor of events to come. Watson and the Shark The
sensational subject matter, muscular painting, and expressions of dread
and anxiety made this John Singleton Copley painting shocking when it
was first displayed in 1778. Portraits of the First Five Presidents This
is the only complete set of Gilbert Stuart’s paintings of the first
five presidents (1817–21), including George Washington, still in
existence. Sadly another set was partially destroyed by fire in 1851 at
the Library of Congress.
Wivenhoe Park, Essex Light
and shade, the perception of calm, and clarity of detail create an
absorbing and soothing landscape. In this 1816 work John Constable
demonstrates his love of the English countryside. Symphony in White, No. 1: The White Girl This
1862 work by James McNeill Whistler is a precursor of Modernism,
emphasizing abstract forms over the sensuous recreation of the model,
the artist’s mistress, Joanna Heffernan.
Woman with a Parasol – Madame Monet and Her Son The
human figures are part of nature here, fully integrated with the
landscape. Curators believe this 1875 Claude Monet portrait was painted
in a single session. Number 1, 1950 (Lavender Mist) This Jackson Pollock composition is a monument of America’s emergence as a center of art innovation (1950).
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