REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 39 
sion. Also in preparation for publication were Mr. Walker’s mono- 
graph on Giovanni Bellini’s “Feast of the Gods,” in collaboration with 
Edgar Wind, and a companion volume to “Masterpieces of Painting” 
on the Gallery’s sculpture compiled by Mr. Seymour. Also brought to 
completion in preparation for publication in the near future was the 
first of a series of small handbooks on the Widener Collection of deco- 
rative arts by Mr. Christensen. Smaller picture books of the Mellon 
and Widener Collections of paintings and sculpture were also in prepa- 
ration for publication. For progress on the Gallery catalog, see under 
Curatorial Department. 
Since the Gallery was opened to the public in 1941, well over 
2,000,000 posteards of works of art in the Gallery’s collections, and 
more than 400,000 of the Gallery’s 11-inch by 14-inch color reproduc- 
tions have been sold. 
The policy of furnishing moderately priced catalogs, color repro- 
ductions of fine quality, and other publications, has been continued. 
Another new edition of the General Information booklet, which is 
made available to visitors without charge, was issued during the year. 
Publishers of large collotype reproductions of paintings in the Na- 
tional Gallery of Art have added 15 new titles to their lists during 
the fiscal year 1946, making a total of 38 of these large reproductions 
now available. 
CONSTRUCTION OF NEW GALLERIES 
The contract for the construction of six new gallery rooms, men- 
tioned in the 1945 annual report, was completed during the fiscal year 
1946. This construction was carried forward in keeping with the rec- 
ommendations of the Committee on the Building and a resolution of 
the Board of Trustees. Three of the rooms are in the east wing of the 
building and three are in the west wing. These galleries are finished 
and decorated in a manner similar to the gallery rooms adjacent to 
them, with the exception of the specially designed room for the ex- 
hibition of the Luini panels in the Kress Collection. The work was 
completed and the galleries were opened to the public on February 
2, 1946, for the special opening exhibition of additions to the Kress 
Collection. 
INSTALLATION OF ADDITIONAL AIR-CONDITIONING EQUIPMENT 
The gradual opening of additional spaces in the Gallery building 
and the construction of the six new galleries have made it necessary to 
augment the air-conditioning equipment in the building by an addi- 
tional compressor machine. In keeping with recommendations of the 
Committee on the Building and a resolution of the Board of Trustees, 
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