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Why the
National Gallery of Arts
is special
The National Gallery of Arts in Washington, D.C. has an extensive collection of
artwork of the masters from the Middle Ages to the modern era.
National Gallery of Arts
tips & insights
 It
has two buildings, the West and East Wings.
The
West Wing has a neo-classic architectural design. It houses precious paintings
and sculptures by European and American Masters (including Botticelli, El
Greco, Raphael, Renoir and Rembrandt (see his self-portrait above) and Whistler.
It also boasts the only Leonardo da Vinci painting in the Western Hemisphere.
The
East Wing is a striking ultramodern building freely using angular shapes. It
features works by the likes of Picasso, Matisse and Warhol. The skylit atrium is
dominated by a suspended Calder mobile.
There
is also a large outdoor sculpture garden.
Besides
showcasing its permanent collection, the National Gallery of Arts organizes a
number of interesting temporary special exhibitions, including retrospectives.
Admission
is free. Extras include certain special exhibitions and the rental of the
audio tour (which I recommend to first-time visitors).
Although
the two wings have radically different architectural styles, they have a
physical relationship. Both are sheathed in pink marble from the same Tennessee
quarry. They are linked by an underground tunnel.
Because
of its proximity to some of the Smithsonian museums, many visitors
erroneously think that the National Gallery of Arts is part of that institute.
The two are affiliated but independent of each other.
The
National Gallery of Art attracts over six millions visitors per year.
Avoid
Sunday afternoons if possible. It is most crowded then. Mornings are better.
Also, weekdays are better than weekends - and winter is better than summer.
 
American cuisine
 
 
 
 
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