National Gallery of Art

Tha National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, is the most comprehensive art museum in the Nation's Capital. The National Gallery is located along the National Mall and is housed in two connected buildings. The West Building is the original structure, dedicated in 1941. (If the West Building's rotunda looks familiar, it is because it was designed by John Russell Pope, also the architect of the Jefferson Memorial.) The East Building, opened in 1978, houses contemporary works of art. Appropriately, it was designed in a contemporary style by I.M. Pei.

The National Gellery was founded by a gift from philanthropist and financier Andrew Mellon and had been enhacned by gifts from many private collectors.

The museum's collection contains representation from American and European painters, sculptors, printmakers, and decorative artists. The visitor can see a wide range of works and schools of art on display ranging from Medieval and Renaissance artists, the Old Masters, Impressionists, British and American portraiture, Amercian artists of the colonial period to the 20th Century, to Abstract Impressionism.

Among the many signficant works to be seen at the National Gallery are Leonardo da Vinci's Ginevra de' Benci, Vermeer's Woman Holding a Balace, Van Gogh's Self Portrait of 1889, Picasso's Family of Saltimbanques, and Jackson Pollock's Lavender Mist.

In additional tot eh permanent collections, there are frequent special exhibits and shows. A Sunday afternoon chamber music sereis takes place in the Garden Court.

Admission to the National Gallery of Art is free. When visiting Washington, you really can't miss this outstanding museum.

Personal photography is permitted.

I really love art so if there's an artmuseum in a city i try to visit it. This museum is very nice to visit even if you're not really into art. It's free so it's very nice to walk in and see if you like it. If you don't like it, you just leave again. I really loved this museum. I didn't see all sections in the museum because not everyone in our group likes art. But we did see the section European paintings which was very nice. At the time we were there, there was an exhibition of dutch landscapes and dutch scenes. I really liked this of course. There are different changing exhibitions during the year. If you like to have quick visit to the museum you can ask a 'What to see in an hour' map. The map will lead you to the most important paintings of the museum then. If you're here with children who don't like to see art: during the weekends, there are babysitters here who will look after your kids (free!) and who will entertain them.

I also want to add to the review -
I highly recommend that during your visit to the National Gallery of Art, you should stop by the Espresso & Gelato Bar in the East Building, Concourse Level for the GELATO!

Since I live in the DC area, I'll sometimes stop by the art gallery, sit by the window which overlooks the outdoor fountain from underground, and treat myself to a small gelato.

Enjoy!

  I fell in love for the first time with modern art. Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings here (through my fiancee's eyes) were stunning. So, too, were the Picasso's and the Van Gogh's. There was so much in the Eastern Gallery that we had to return to visit the western gallery. We also enjoyed a silent film in the showroom downstairs.