THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART 13 



of great scientific value was being constantly received at Wash- 

 ington. By 1845 there was already a large accumulation which 

 was cared for at the Patent Office, primarily under the custody 

 of the National Institute but later under that of the Commis- 

 sioner of Patents. It was time to consider the founding of a 

 national museum, and the bequest of Smithson furnished the 

 opportunity. Unfortunately, it was the supposition of Con- 

 gress that the annual interest of $30,000, the income then yielded 

 by the Smithsonian fund, would provide for the accommodation 

 and maintenance of the national collections, besides covering 

 the expenses of all other objects with which the Institution had 

 been charged. This error was subsequently recognized but not 

 wholly corrected until after the expenditure of nearly half a 

 million dollars, none of which has been refunded to the Institu- 

 tion, in the erection of the large building and the care of the 

 Government collections during a period of twenty years. 



While the art side of the Museum was not destined to prosper 

 for many years, it is interesting to note that the first collection 

 purchased from the Smithsonian fund, even before the comple- 

 tion of the building, was a large series of engravings and etch- 

 ings, the finest of its kind which, up to that time, had been 

 brought to this country. The building up of a gallery of the 

 fine arts requires considerable means for purchasing or the aid 

 of many friends as benefactors, and the museum which can 

 count on both is indeed fortunate. The Institution has received 

 help from neither source except to a very limited extent. Con- 

 gress has declined to appropriate funds for such a purpose, and 

 until lately individuals generally have been reluctant to con- 

 tribute to what they denominate the Government, failing to 

 appreciate that, in fact, the museum belongs to the nation. 

 A better understanding of the situation is now beginning to 

 prevail. 



The Government has, however, been exceedingly liberal in 

 the development of the natural resources of the country, and 

 before the establishment of the Institution, as already intimated, 

 it had entered upon the extensive explorations which were to 

 aid so materially in the opening up of the great West. While, 

 therefore, funds were not supplied for the increase equally of 

 the several departments of the museum, opportunities were 



