18 THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART 



segregated according to their classification, a considerable part 

 of the specimens will be found distributed among the collections 

 of history and ethnology. 



In 1896 most of the objects of art which had been deposited 

 in the Corcoran Gallery and the Library of Congress were 

 recalled to the Institution, in the hope of renewing interest in 

 the subject, and, although the purpose in view was not imme- 

 diately reahzed, the change proved effective in subsequent 

 results. The western hall of the Smithsonian building had just 

 previously been renovated and its fireproofing perfected in 

 anticipation of its being required for art collections as originally 

 intended, and in the year named a large room in the eastern 

 wing of the same building was fitted up for the prints and art 

 library. During the period from the time of the fire until the 

 beginning of the present century many examples of the plastic 

 arts and a few paintings were received by the Institution and 

 Museum, principally as gifts, proving that there still existed a 

 knowledge of the association of art with the Institution in 

 at least some quarters. 



This account now reaches the present stage in the history of 

 the art department. It has been seen that Congress directed 

 the establishment of a museum and a gallery of art, whose 

 administration was combined by the Board of Regents. Their 

 function was to preserve, classify, and exhibit the national col- 

 lections. The accumulation in quantity and variety of speci- 

 mens of natural history and ethnology was rendered possible 

 through the explorations and investigations authorized by Con- 

 gress mainly for practical purposes. Art in its higher sense was 

 neither helped nor encouraged, and whatever was acquired 

 came from miscellaneous sources and was mostly inferior in 

 character. Neither the museum nor the gallery was given a 

 definite title in the fundamental act, but both were designated 

 as custodians of property belonging to the nation. The name 

 "National Museum," although frequently employed in the 

 earher Smithsonian reports, was not adopted by Congress until 

 1875, by which time the collections had become sufficiently 

 large to justify its use. The art department, however, never 

 attained to a size and character that would have entitled it to 

 be called by so exalted a title. It was often referred to as the 



