Private National Gallery of Art in DC Expert Led Tour

Duration

3 hours

Overview

Created with a gift from the financier and art collector, Andrew W. Mellon, the National Gallery of Art opened its doors in 1941 as a museum devoted to the people of the United States of America. Mr. Mellon believed that the nation deserved its own collection, open to the public. His gift financed the construction of the original building, as well as the paintings and sculpture that formed the basis of the exceptional collection the Gallery boasts today. This tour explores the collections of the West Building. We'll learn about some of the the Gallery's most prized and adored works by artists such as Leonardo da Vinci, Jan van Eyck and JMW Turner, as well as uncovering hidden gems along the way. We begin our time together at the base of the steps of the West Building facing the National Mall with a discussion of the founding of the Gallery.