THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART 57 



A proposition relating to the promotion of architecture was 

 received and considered by the Board of Regents, the plan pro- 

 viding, among other things, that designs for buildings might be 

 sent to the Institution, and those of a certain degree of merit be 

 honored with a place in the gallery of art. The only definite 

 action on the subject by the Board was in the form of a resolu- 

 tion, as follows: "That architects be invited to send in designs 

 for buildings, and that notice be given that models of ancient or 

 modern architecture will be received by the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution, and that such designs or models, at the discretion of the 

 Regents, will be placed in the Gallery of Art." No advantage 

 seems to have been taken of this invitation. 



1852 



STANLEY COLLECTION OF INDIAN PAINTINGS 



This important series of Indian portraits and scenes by J. M. 

 Stanley was deposited by the artist in the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion in 1852. lyike the Catlin Gallery, it was offered for sale to 

 the Institution and the Government, but its purchase was never 

 consummated. It consisted of one hundred and fifty-two can- 

 vases, executed between 1842 and 1852, including a portrait of 

 Stanley by A. B. Moore. Subsequent additions were said to 

 have been made to the collection, but only the original series 

 was described in the catalogue published by the Institution. 

 While chiefly of ethnological value, the pictures were considered 

 to have considerable artistic merit. 



In the beginning they were installed in the west hall on the 

 main floor of the Smithsonian building, but in about 1855 they 

 were removed to the western part of the second floor, which had 

 been fitted up as a gallery for paintings. Commencing with 

 1866 an annual allowance of $ioo was made to Mr. Stanley by 

 the Institution to enable him to pay the interest on a debt which 

 he had incurred to prevent the sacrifice of the collection by 

 selling the pictures separately; and, in view of the failure of 

 action on the part of Congress, Secretary Henry reported in 1862, 

 "that it might become a subject of consideration with the 

 Regents to make some provisions for the preservation of the 

 collection in its integrity, since otherwise the owner may be 



