By — Kristin Miller Kristin Miller Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/celebrating-73-years-national-gallery-art Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Celebrating 73 years of the National Gallery of Art Arts Mar 16, 2014 1:10 PM EDT Several months ago the National Gallery in London made headlines by acquiring its first ever piece by an American artist, George Bellows’ Men of the Docks (1912) for $2.25 million. The purchase broke a long-standing tradition of nearly 200 years, and incidentally, was made with money from a fund established by late American billionaire J. Paul Getty. The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., turns 73 on March 17. The museum is the gift of another American of great wealth, Andrew Mellon, who felt that the United States should have a gallery of art comparable to those of capitols of Europe. Mellon donated his personal art collection, paid for construction and left a sizable donation. Of course the National Gallery (and Mellon) collected Old Masters to rival those housed in Paris, London and Rome. But the gallery also included American art and design from the outset. And because this is the gallery of the nation, their website makes learning more about the art simple and entertaining. Judith Leyster (Dutch, 1609 – 1660 ), Self-Portrait, c. 1630, oil on canvas Coryn Boel after David Teniers the Younger (Flemish, 1620 – 1688 ), The Cat’s Concert,. Edouard Manet (French, 1832 – 1883 ), The Railway, 1873. Leonardo da Vinci (Italian, 1452 – 1519 ), Ginevra de’ Benci [obverse], c. 1474/1478, oil on panel. George Bellows, Tennis Tournament, American, 1882 – 1925, 1920, oil on canvas. Gilbert Stuart (American, 1755 – 1828 ), John Adams, c. 1821, oil on wood. Edgar Degas (French, 1834 – 1917 ), Little Dancer Aged Fourteen, 1878-1881. Edouard Vuillard (French, 1868 – 1940 ), Woman in Black, c. 1891, oil on cardboard. Ray Price, Dress, American, active c. 1935. Index of American Design Alexej von Jawlensky, Murnau, Russian, 1864 – 1941, 1910, oil on hardboard. Pablo Picasso, The Frugal Repast (Le repas frugal), French, 1867 – 1939, 1904, etching (zinc). Julia Margaret Cameron, British, The Mountain Nymph, June 1866, albumen print from collodion negative. To explore further, make a visit to the NGA images bank, which holds more than 35,000 open access images. By — Kristin Miller Kristin Miller
Several months ago the National Gallery in London made headlines by acquiring its first ever piece by an American artist, George Bellows’ Men of the Docks (1912) for $2.25 million. The purchase broke a long-standing tradition of nearly 200 years, and incidentally, was made with money from a fund established by late American billionaire J. Paul Getty. The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., turns 73 on March 17. The museum is the gift of another American of great wealth, Andrew Mellon, who felt that the United States should have a gallery of art comparable to those of capitols of Europe. Mellon donated his personal art collection, paid for construction and left a sizable donation. Of course the National Gallery (and Mellon) collected Old Masters to rival those housed in Paris, London and Rome. But the gallery also included American art and design from the outset. And because this is the gallery of the nation, their website makes learning more about the art simple and entertaining. Judith Leyster (Dutch, 1609 – 1660 ), Self-Portrait, c. 1630, oil on canvas Coryn Boel after David Teniers the Younger (Flemish, 1620 – 1688 ), The Cat’s Concert,. Edouard Manet (French, 1832 – 1883 ), The Railway, 1873. Leonardo da Vinci (Italian, 1452 – 1519 ), Ginevra de’ Benci [obverse], c. 1474/1478, oil on panel. George Bellows, Tennis Tournament, American, 1882 – 1925, 1920, oil on canvas. Gilbert Stuart (American, 1755 – 1828 ), John Adams, c. 1821, oil on wood. Edgar Degas (French, 1834 – 1917 ), Little Dancer Aged Fourteen, 1878-1881. Edouard Vuillard (French, 1868 – 1940 ), Woman in Black, c. 1891, oil on cardboard. Ray Price, Dress, American, active c. 1935. Index of American Design Alexej von Jawlensky, Murnau, Russian, 1864 – 1941, 1910, oil on hardboard. Pablo Picasso, The Frugal Repast (Le repas frugal), French, 1867 – 1939, 1904, etching (zinc). Julia Margaret Cameron, British, The Mountain Nymph, June 1866, albumen print from collodion negative. To explore further, make a visit to the NGA images bank, which holds more than 35,000 open access images.