THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART 
27 
orders of Congress. Copies of such pictures, statues, and medals, 
should be spread far and wide over the land, that they may pene- 
trate into every hamlet, and inspire the people universally with 
gratitude and emulation. From the advancement of the fine 
arts, we may promise ourselves great improvements in the archi- 
tecture of our private and public buildings; in the former, a 
better adaptation of the arrangements to the comforts and con- 
veniences of life; in the latter, more suitable forms and arrange- 
ments for the purposes of business. We are led away by the 
imposing appearance of massive colonnades and splendid por- 
ticos, and apply them equally to temples and to buildings, in- 
tended altogether for the transaction of public business. This 
is a mistake which the more chastened taste will correct. 
“A collection of models and paintings at Washington could 
not fail to be highly useful. It would aid the cultivation of 
the art of design, which cannot be too strongly recommended. 
It multiplies the resources and enjoyments of the professional 
man, and is an essential accomplishment to the architect, the 
machinist, the artizan, and the mechanic. It ought to be 
taught in our common schools; and every mechanic should be 
able to sketch with accuracy his own plans, and to copy those 
of others, so as to be able to profit by every improvement that 
comes under his observation.” 
The first constitution of the Institute provided for two di- 
rectors, which positions were to be filled, ex officio , by the Sec- 
retary of War and the Secretary of the Navy, but an amend- 
ment adopted in April, 1841, established the office of president 
which was first conferred on Mr. Poinsett. The membership, 
divided into resident, corresponding and honorary, included 
many men of distinction in the political history of the country 
as well as in the various professions. At one time it exceeded 
1 ,000 persons, of whom about 300 were residents, the remainder 
representing different sections of the United States and prac- 
tically all other civilized countries. 
By an act of Congress, approved July 27, 1842, the society 
was incorporated under the title “ National Institute,” for a term 
of 20 years, “and no longer, unless Congress shall by law pro- 
long its existence.” It was also provided in the charter that, 
“all the property of the said corporation, at the time of the ex- 
