30 THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART 



curiosities containing, besides many specimens of natural his- 

 tory, historical relics and coins, a number of pictures and mis- 

 cellaneous objects of art, since it later came into the possession 

 of the National Institute and three oil paintings from this 

 source are still preserved in the National Museum. The origi- 

 nator of this collection, named John Varden, though neither a 

 professional nor even an amateur in art or science, was richly 

 endowed with the instincts of a collector and showman. Hav- 

 ing little means, he was mainly dependent upon gifts and loans, 

 which were contributed by so many persons as to indicate a 

 wide acquaintanceship. His industry and aptitude for business 

 details led to his subsequent employment by the two establish- 

 ments to which his material was successively conveyed. He 

 first called his collection "John Varden's Museum," and a list 

 of its contents was kept in a large book, with the dates of 

 acquisition and the names of donors and lenders. The following 

 extract from the initial page describes naively his incentive and 

 expectations : 



"This collection was commenced by John Varden, a resident 

 of the city from the year 1803. I was induced to commence 

 this collection in 1829 in consequence of three persons having 

 opened and made very great collections from the generous 

 citizens and then leaving the place, taking the many rich and 

 scarce donations with them, thus leaving the seat of Government 

 without so valuable an institution. I shall, therefore, continue 

 my exertions and I hope, with the aid of all those friendly to 

 such a rational place of amusement, to be able at no very 

 distant period to make the attempt at a public exhibition in 

 a proper house." 



Under date of June i, 1836, the name was changed to 

 "Washington Museum, John Varden Proprietor," and from 

 the following note it would appear that the collection was then 

 first opened to the public: "Having built a room 30 feet long 

 and prepared it and another room for the reception of visitors, 

 and having arranged between 400 and 500 specimens, I adver- 

 tised that my collection was now ready for the citizens to visit." 

 These rooms were at the corner of John Marshall Place and D 

 Street, near the City Hall. In June, 1 841, according to Varden, 

 the collection was examined by a committee from the National 



