1916 
NATIONAL GALLERY OP ART 
It is very gratifying to note that early in the 
year Mr. Charles L. Freer waived, the eond.ition attending 
his munificent gift of American and oriental art to the 
effect that the collection remain in his possession during 
his life, and expressed a desire that the erection of the 
building be taken up at the earliest possible moment. The 
sum required for this purpose, $1,000,000, also a donation 
from Mr. Freer, was turned over to the Institution in Decem¬ 
ber, and the site and preliminary plans, both satisfactory 
to the benefactor, received later the approval of the Board 
of Regents of the Institution, and of the Federal Commission 
of Fine Arts. The site is the southwestern part of the 
Smithsonian reservation, at the corner of Twelfth and B 
Streets, S. W., and approximately two years will be required 
for the completion of the building, at the end of which time 
the transfer of the many precious objects to Washington may 
be expected to take place. The fact that the planning and 
the execution of the work of construction is in the hands of 
Mr. Charles A. Platt, of New York, insures their being carried 
out in an eminently satisfactory manner. 
Since the last report Mr. Freer has increased the 
extent of his collection to about 5,436 items by 535 additions, 
of which 23 are paintings and sculptures by the American 
artists Tryon, Thayer, Metcalf, Murphy, and Saint-Gaudens; 
