THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART 29 



ment. In 1858, when the Smithsonian building had been 

 finished, and its museum and Hbrary halls partly furnished, all of 

 the Government collections, which a few years before had passed 

 to the custody of the Commissioner of Patents, were transferred 

 to the Smithsonian Institution. The collections of the National 

 Institute were not turned over until 1862, upon the termination 

 of its charter and in accordance with its terms. 



In the Hst which follows are enumerated such of the art 

 objects contained in the museum of the National Institute, 

 whether belonging to the society or to the Government, as are 

 clearly indicated by the records. Since, however, the records 

 are very imperfect, it has not been possible to determine the 

 original ownership in all cases, and it is also certain that the 

 list is far from complete, as many engravings and other works 

 known to have been received from Europe are not accounted for. 



No catalogue of the objects as transferred from the society 

 and the Patent Office to the Smithsonian Institution has been 

 found," and in the absence of such a list it is impossible to say 

 which of the examples of art enumerated below were actually 

 received by the Institution, except as they were mentioned in 

 early Smithsonian reports or are now in the possession of the 

 National Museum, as explained further on. Some were unfortu- 

 nately destroyed in the Smithsonian fire of 1865. 



It is interesting to note in this connection the existence in 

 Washington as early as 1836 of a small private museum of 



a A catalogue of the collections of the National Institute, by Alfred 

 Hunter, was published in several editions beginning with 1854, two appear- 

 ing before the transfer of the Government material in 1858, and at least 

 one subsequently, but before the collections belonging to the Institute 

 were turned over to the Smithsonian. None of the editions is complete 

 or reliable. The title of the second edition is as follows: A Popular Cata- 

 logue of the Extraordinary Curiosities in the National Institute, arranged 

 in the building belonging to the Patent Office. Curiosities collected from 

 all parts of the world, by the officers of the Army and Navy of the United 

 States. Curios and strange articles, presented by private individuals. 

 Revolutionary relics of extraordinary interest. Articles of immense value, 

 presented to the United States Government and its officers, deposited 

 here according to law. Articles collected by the United States Exploring 

 Expedition, under Commander Wilkes, at a cost to Government of several 

 millions of dollars, etc. Second edition. Washington: Published by 

 Alfred Hunter, 1855. 



