14 REPORT OF natto>;al :MrSEUM, 1907. 



diroction. In tlio Xatioiial Miist'imi. however, certain branches of art 

 have been fostered for over a (iiuuter of a centiirv and are now fairlv 

 Avell represented. 



The first collection purchased i)v the Institution was the valuable 

 series of prints assembled by the ITou. (leorjre I*. Marsh, containing; 

 examples of the work of nearly every ctclu'r and engraver of celeb- 

 rity from the early masters to the middle of the last century. 



* ft ft 



Though not the largest, it was recognized as the choicest collection of 

 its kind then in this country. Later accessions included, besides en- 

 gravings, a number of paintings, reproductions of celebrated pieces 

 of sculpture, busts of distinguished individuals, and many important 

 books on art. 



The early exhibition in the upper Smithsonian linll consisted 

 mainly of the unique collections of Indian portraits and scenes by 

 J. M. Stanley, C B. King, and others, but in the fire of ISC).') this 

 sx'ction of the gallery Avith its contents was entirely destroyed. The 

 objects on the lower floor escaped injury and were subsequently 

 deposited for safe-keeping in the Library of Congress and the 

 Corcoran GallcMy of Art, where they remained until about ten years 

 ago. Since that time one of the rooms in the eastern part of the 

 Smithsonian l)uil(ling has been utilized for the })rints. l)ooks, and 

 various other works of art, but the larger i)art of the collection has 

 been provided for in the National ^luseum. 



Such, briefly, was the history of the art exhibits up to tJanuary, 

 1906, when the acceptance by the Board of Regents of the large and 

 notable collection of Mr. Charles L. Freer marked the beginning of 

 a new epoch in the affairs of the gallery of art. In the following 

 July a further advance was made through the acquisition of the 

 valuable collection of the late Harriet Lane Johnston, based upon a 

 decision of the supreme court of the District of Columbia, essentialh^ 

 reaffirming the intent of the fundamental act, that the custodianship 

 of the National Gallery of Art was vested in the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution. This collection is especially noteworthy in that it contains 

 paintings by several celebrated masters, besides other pieces of merit 

 and of historical importance. It was delivered to the Institution in 

 the early part of August, 11)06, and was at once installed in the 

 reception room in the Smithsonian building, the only place then 

 available. 



The necessity of .securing more extensive quarters without delay 

 led to the selection and temporaiv fitting up of the lecture hall in 

 the ^luseum building for the purposes of the gallery and especially 

 for the paintings. On the com]detion of these changes in the latter 

 part of November. I!t0('>. the Harriet Lane Johnston collection and 

 other paintings were iransfei-red there, and these, with several loans 

 and donations, fidly occupy the existing wall space. Among the 



