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 Advance Exhibition Schedule - http://www.nga.gov/press/schedule/aes.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/schedule/aes.shtm National Gallery of Art Offers Romantic Outings During the Month of February and Beyond Release Date: February 4, 2010 http://www.nga.gov/press/2010/imagesoflove.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2010/imagesoflove.shtm Garden Café Français Now Open Featuring a menu of French cuisine developed by award-winning chef Michel Richard in honor of "From Impressionism to Modernism: The Chester Dale Collection." http://www.nga.gov/press/2010/cafe_france.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2010/cafe_france.shtm Hendrick Avercamp: The Little Ice Age | March 21 through July 5, 2010 Release Date: January 15, 2010 http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/3150/index.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/3150/index.shtm The 68th Season of Concerts at the National Gallery of Art, January–June 2010 Release Date: January 8, 2010 http://www.nga.gov/press/2010/concerts_jan_jun_2010.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2010/concerts_jan_jun_2010.shtm National Gallery of Art Programs for Children and Teens in 2010 Feature a Special Performance by Kevin Reese and Acclaimed Films from Around the World Release Date: January 8, 2010 http://www.nga.gov/press/2010/films_children_2010.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2010/films_children_2010.shtm National Gallery of Art Lecture Program Presents Byron Kim, Susan Rothenberg, Robert M. Edsel, Harold Holzer and More in Early 2010 Release Date: January 8, 2010 http://www.nga.gov/press/2010/lectures_early_2010.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2010/lectures_early_2010.shtm Films at the National Gallery of Art in Early 2010 Celebrate Dance, Chekhov, The Film Foundation's 20th Anniversary, and More Release Date: January 5, 2010 http://www.nga.gov/press/2010/film_2010.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2010/film_2010.shtm Robert H. Smith, President Emeritus, National Gallery of Art, Dies at 81 Release Date: December 31, 2009 http://www.nga.gov/press/2009/robert_smith.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2009/robert_smith.shtm Gleaming Steel "Graft" Installed in National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden by Artist Roxy Paine Update: December 15, 2009 http://www.nga.gov/press/2009/paine.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2009/paine.shtm Chester Dale Collection Celebrated with Array of Public Programs and Special Offerings in Garden Café and Shops Release Date: December 17, 2009 http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/3063/related.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/3063/related.shtm "Synecdoche", Watershed Work by Byron Kim, Installed at the National Gallery of Art Release Date: November 30, 2009 http://www.nga.gov/press/2009/byron_kim.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2009/byron_kim.shtm National Gallery of Art Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts Announces 2009–2010 Appointments Release Date: November 19, 2009 http://www.nga.gov/press/2009/casva_09_10.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2009/casva_09_10.shtm National Gallery of Art Presents 64th American Music Festival in Honor of The Robert and Jane Meyerhoff Collection: Selected Works Release Date: November 5, 2009 http://www.nga.gov/press/2009/music_fest.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2009/music_fest.shtm In the Darkroom: Photographic Processes Before the Digital Age | October 25, 2009 through March 14, 2010 Release Date: October 16, 2009 http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/2873/index.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/2873/index.shtm The Sacred Made Real: Spanish Painting and Sculpture, 1600-1700 | February 28 through May 31, 2010 Release Date: October 8, 2009 http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/2871/index.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/2871/index.shtm Editions with Additions: Working Proofs by Jasper Johns | October 11, 2009 through April 4, 2010 Release Date: September 25, 2009 http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/3154/index.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/3154/index.shtm The Robert and Jane Meyerhoff Collection: Selected Works | October 1, 2009 through May 2, 2010 Release Date: September 11, 2009 http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/2985/index.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/2985/index.shtm From Impressionism to Modernism: The Chester Dale Collection | January 31, 2010 through July 31, 2011 Release Date: September 11, 2009 http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/3063/index.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/3063/index.shtm National Gallery of Art Concerts in 2009–2010 Present Music Relating to the Visual Arts Release Date: August 28, 2009 http://www.nga.gov/press/2009/music.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2009/music.shtm Designing the Lincoln Memorial: Daniel Chester French and Henry Bacon | February 12, 2009 through February 12, 2010 Release Date: January 16, 2009 http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/3082/index.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/3082/index.shtm National Gallery of Art Seeks Drawings, Watercolors, and Paintings on Paper by Mark Rothko in Italy for Essential Reference Volumes Release Date: February 4, 2008 http://www.nga.gov/press/2007/rothko.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2007/rothko.shtm