THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART 
23 
The question of providing quarters for the gallery which shall 
furnish entirely suitable conditions for the exhibition of paint- 
ings as well as ample space to meet the requirements of the near 
future, is now under consideration. The art interests of the 
country, stimulated by the recent benefactions, have very 
generally urged the immediate erection of a special building for 
the fine art collections of the nation, arguing that such a recog- 
nition of the subject by the Government would at once lead to 
many and important contributions. This desire, which can 
only be interpreted as an expression of favorable sentiment, is 
both gratifying and propitious, but to the Institution it seems 
best to advance with greater deliberation. The planning of a 
building would require some time, and even though only a part 
of it were constructed in the beginning, it is doubtful if the 
present nucleus would be regarded as a sufficient argument for 
the expenditure that would be called for. The fine large build- 
ing which is now under construction for the natural history 
departments of the Museum is the outcome of many years 
collecting, and has been rendered imperative by the immense 
amount of material to be preserved and exhibited. The course 
which appears to be most justifiable at present is to fit up a 
provisional gallery, of sufficient size to accommodate such 
additions as may be expected within a period of several years, 
or until some definite conclusion can be reached as to the future. 
The Institution can furnish the requisite amount of space, and 
it will only be necessary to adapt it to the purpose from the 
standpoint of lighting and of wall space for hanging. As 
described elsewhere, Mr. Charles L. Freer will provide the 
means for erecting a special building, containing both exhibition 
rooms and studios, to house his collection. 
In the body of this paper, which follows, the art movement on 
behalf of the Government is discussed chronologically from the 
establishment of the National Institute in 1840 to the present 
time. The material used has been taken from both manuscript 
and printed records and reports, but, owing to the incomplete- 
ness of these, especially for the earlier years, it has so far been 
impossible to adequately explain or account for many of the 
older acquisitions, or to trace the disposition of several of some 
importance which have disappeared. On the other hand, the 
