REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 15 



results of the researches of the staff were published by the Museum 

 in 7 volumes and 41 separate papers. The distribution of its publica- 

 tions totaled 86,680 copies. The number of visitors during the year 

 was 1,669,140. 



NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART 



Three exhibitions were held in the gallery during the year : A 

 collection of 78 water colors by William Spencer Bagdatopoulos, a 

 memorial exhibition of water colors by Henry Bacon, and the fortieth 

 annual exhibition of the Society of Washington Artists. 



Art works received by the Institution, subject to transfer to the 

 national gallery upon approval of the National Gallery of Art Com- 

 mission, included several portraits, among them a portrait of Com- 

 modore Stephen Decatur by Gilbert Stuart, bequeathed by the late 

 Stephen Decatur Parsons. Among the loans accepted by the gallery 

 were 15 paintings by British and Dutch masters lent by the execu- 

 tors of the estate of the late Henry Cleveland Perkins, and five 

 paintings by old masters lent by Mrs. Marshall Langhorne. 



Four paintings were purchased during the year from the Henry 

 Ward Ranger fund by the Council of the National Academy of 

 Design. Under the conditions of Mr. Ranger's will, the National 

 Gallery may claim any of the pictures thus purchased during the 

 5-year period beginning 10 years after the artist's death and ending 

 15 years after his death. 



The director. Professor Holmes, calls attention to the fact that just 

 60 years have passed since he first entered the doors of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, where he was almost immediately employed as an 

 artist. It may be added that since that time, except for short periods 

 of connection with other organizations, he has remained with the 

 Smithsonian and has served it with marked success in the fields of 

 geology and anthropology as well as of art. To few men is it given 

 to achieve distinction in three major fields of activity and to con- 

 tinue at the age of 85 in the able direction of such an important 

 enterprise as the National Gallery of Art. 



FREER GALLERY OF ART* 



Additions to the collections by purchase include a Chinese bronze 

 vessel of the fifth century B. C. ; two Chinese jade ornaments of 

 the third century B. C. ; Nepalese, Persian, and Arabic manuscripts ; 

 and Chinese, Indian, Nepalese, and Persian paintings. 



1 The Governmpnt's expense in connection with the Freer Gallery of Art consists mainly 

 In the care of the building and certain other custodial matters. Other expenses are paid 

 from the Freer endowmennt funds. 



