REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1908. • 19 



to laboratories, workshops, offices, etc., which are arranged along 

 the outer walls and extend through the adjacent ranges. The height 

 of the story is about 20 feet. 



The main story, as above intimated, also presents a continuous 

 floor space, and in order to completely light it the middle part of 

 each wing, to a width of 50 feet, is carried up through the second 

 story to a ceiling light underneath a roof skylight. The sides of the 

 story to a depth of 32 feet are lighted from the windows, but at the 

 outer ends of the wings the distance is somewhat greater. The line 

 of demarcation between the two sections is marked by a row of piers, 

 which helps to support the second story. This open construction is 

 the main feature of the wings, and furnishes three exceptionally 

 large halls well adapted to the exhibition of collections for the 

 public. By means of screens the lateral sections can be parti}' cut 

 oti' from the skylighted area, and divided iaito apartments so as to 

 meet the varying requirements of installation without destroying the 

 architectural effect of the hall as a whole. The height at the sides 

 is about 21 feet, and from the floor to the ceiling light about 52 feet. 

 The second story of the main wings, as will be understood from the 

 above description, is equivalent in space to only the lateral and end 

 sections of the first story. It is separated from the skylighted area 

 by walls, pierced at intervals by large doorlike openings, from which 

 a view of the main halls may be obtained. Its height is about 20 

 feet, and it derives its light entirely from windows. It will also be 

 utilized for public exhibition. The third story corresponds with the 

 second in the amount and distribution of floor space. It will, how- 

 ever, be entirely divided into rooms for laboratories, for the storage 

 of collections, and for the general administrative offices. In the 

 attics of the wings some additional space for storage will be obtained. 



The building will be entirely fireproof, and will contain everj^ 

 modern convenience that is deemed essential for museum purposes. 

 A monumental staircase has been omitted on account of the space it 

 would occupy, but there are several stairways at different points, and 

 passenger elevators at the two entrances. 



NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART. 



In accordance with the plan proposed the year before, with the 

 object of maintaining a proper standard of merit in the acceptance 

 of paintings and works of sculpture for the National Gallery of Art, 

 a committee of five artists to act in an advisory capacity was desig- 

 nated in the spring of 1908, The selection of three members of the 

 committee was requested of three leading art associations, the other 

 two being named by the Smithsonian Institution. This committee 

 held its first meeting at the Institution on April 16, 1908. As then 



