National Gallery of Art Press Office WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The National Gallery of Art was created in 1937 for the people of the United States of America by a joint resolution of Congress, accepting the gift of financier and art collector Andrew W. Mellon. During the 1920s, Mr. Mellon began collecting with the intention of forming a gallery of art for the nation in Washington. In 1937, the year of his death, he promised his collection to the United States. Funds for the construction of the West Building were provided by The A. W. Mellon Educational and Charitable Trust. On March 17, 1941, President Franklin D. Roosevelt accepted the completed building and the collections on behalf of the people of the United States of America. http://www.nga.gov/press en-us ℗ & © 2008 National Gallery of Art Franklin Kelly to Become Deputy Director and Chief Curator of National Gallery of Art in October 2008; Allan Shestack to Retire After 43-Year Career in Museums WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Press Release http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/042908.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/042908.shtm Medieval to Modern: Recent Acquisitions of Drawings, Prints and Illustrated Books | May 4-November 2, 2008 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Press Release http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/277/index.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/277/index.shtm Afghan ChildrenŐs Songbook is Celebrated with Performance on Opening Day of the U.S. Premiere of "Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul"at National Gallery of Art, May 25, 2008 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Press Release http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/273/songbook.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/273/songbook.shtm The Dorothy and Henry Vogel Collection: Fifty Works for Fifty States, A National Gift Program of Contemporary Art, is Announced by the National Gallery of Art, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Press Release http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/vogel50x50_a.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/vogel50x50_a.shtm Stellar Collection of Renaissance Sculpture Promised to National Gallery of Art by Robert H. Smith WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Press Release http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/r_smith.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/r_smith.shtm "Jazz in the Garden" Concerts Return for Eighth Summer in National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Every Friday, 5:00-8:30 p.m., May 23-October 3, 2008 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Press Release http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/jazz_garden.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/jazz_garden.shtm Richard Misrach: On the Beach | May 25 through September 1, 2008 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Monumental color photographs explore the sublime beauty and inherent danger of the sea and its surroundings in the days following September 11, 2001. http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/268/index.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/268/index.shtm The Fantastical World of Max Ernst on Display March 2 through September 6, 2008, at the National Gallery of Art WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Press Release http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/ernst.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/ernst.shtm Looking In: Robert Frank's "The Americans" a 50th-Anniversary Celebration of Frank's Book Goes on View in Washington, San Francisco, and New York in 2009 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Press Release http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/frank.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/frank.shtm Salomon Van Ruysdael Masterpiece and Renowned Wolfgang Ratjen Collection are Among Late 2007 Acquisitions by National Gallery of Art WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Press Release http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/acq_011808.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/acq_011808.shtm Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul | May 25 through September 7, 2008 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Ancient Afghan Treasures to Tour United States In 2008; Exhibition Organized by National Geographic Society and National Gallery of Art In Cooperation with National Museum of Afghanistan, Kabul http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/273/index.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/273/index.shtm In the Forest of Fontainebleau: Painters and Photographers from Corot to Monet | March 2 through June 8, 2008 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Plein-Air Practice in the Forest of Fontainebleau to be Explored In Exhibition Premiering at National Gallery of Art, Washington http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/239/index.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/239/index.shtm National Gallery of Art Seeks Drawings, Watercolors, and Paintings on Paper by Mark Rothko in Italy for Essential Reference Volumes WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Press Release http://www.nga.gov/press/2007/rothko.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2007/rothko.shtm Complete Survey of Renaissance Medals Collections at the National Gallery of Art Now Available WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Press Release http://www.nga.gov/press/2007/syscat.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2007/syscat.shtm