THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART 



The circumstances which led to the assumption in 1906 of 

 the title National Gallery of Art have been noted in the 

 Introduction and will be found so fully discussed on later 

 pages that little need be said upon the subject in this con- 

 nection. While the Smithsonian Institution, through the 

 Museum, has been the custodian of the collections of art as 

 well as of natural history belonging to the nation ever since 

 the completion of its building, yet the fine arts have been 

 too poorly represented to warrant their segregation under a 

 specific designation. With the bequest of Harriet Lane John- 

 ston, however, the conditions changed and, although, under 

 the terms of the fundamental act of 1846, the Board of Regents 

 were fully entitled to employ the name National Gallery, it was 

 necessary to justify its adoption to the executors of Mrs. John- 

 ston's will by action of the Court. In the light of subsequent 

 events, it is very fortunate that such a step was deemed im- 

 perative and was taken, since it not only secured to the people 

 a gift of great value, but also inspired an active and widespread 

 interest in the subject. This benefaction came, it would seem, 

 at the opportune time, as it was immediately followed by two 

 gifts of exceptional size and importance, one from Mr. Charles 

 Iv. Freer the other from Mr. William T. Evans, and by a num- 

 ber of smaller donations. The lack of space, soon to be over- 

 come, has prevented active solicitation in behalf of this depart- 

 ment, and has caused many would-be contributors to await 

 the better accommodations which are at present in course of 

 adjustment. 



It may now truly be said that the National Gallery has taken 

 form and its continued progress seems assured, although it is 

 still too early to foretell its future scope. For many years all 

 the departments of the Museum have been in an overcrowded 

 condition, amounting almost to confusion among those immense 

 collections which are not on public exhibition. The large addi- 

 tional area to be afforded by the new building will permit the 



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