Overview: Important paintings from the permanent collection of French, English, and American art were kept on view during renovation of Main Floor galleries in a thematic installation. Included were Jacques-Louis David's The Emperor Napolean in His Study at the Tuileries, James McNeill Whistler’s Symphony in White, No. 1: The White Girl, and Jean Siméon Chardin's The House of Cards. Thomas Cole's four-painting series The Voyage of Life was on view in gallery G39 with other landscapes and seascapes. Four portrait busts by Jean-Antoine Houdon and selected French paintings were shown in gallery G37. A few works in the exhibition were changed over the course of the installation.

Organization: The exhibition was organized by the National Gallery of Art, Washington.