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 Sculptor Leo Villareal to Install New Site-Specific Work at National Gallery of Art, Washington; Installation Begins in Early September WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Press Release http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/villareal.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/villareal.shtm Leo Villareal, Rafael Moneo, Rachel Whiteread, Peter Schjeldahl, and Calvin Tomkins Are Among the Headliners in National Gallery of Art's Fall 2008 Lecture Series WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Press Release http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/lecture_fall08.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/lecture_fall08.shtm National Gallery of Art Concerts in 2008-2009 Include Four World Premieres and a Revival of A Work Commissioned by the Gallery WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Press Release http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/concerts_08_09.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/concerts_08_09.shtm National Gallery of Art's Fall 2008 Film Series Brings Classical and Contemporary Cultures to the Screen WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Press Release http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/film_fall08.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/2008/film_fall08.shtm George de Forest Brush: The Indian Paintings | September 14, 2008 through January 4, 2009 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- First Exhibition of Indian Paintings by George de Forest Brush Premieres at National Gallery of Art, Washington http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/241/index.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/241/index.shtm Oceans, Rivers, and Skies: Ansel Adams, Robert Adams, and Alfred Stieglitz | October 12, 2008 through March 15, 2009 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Serial Landscape Photographs by Three Legendary American Photographers on View at National Gallery of Art http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/282/index.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/282/index.shtm Pompeii and the Roman Villa: Art and Culture Around the Bay of Naples | October 19, 2008 through March 22, 2009 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Pompeii and the Roman Villa: Art and Culture Around the Bay of Naples Premieres at National Gallery of Art, Washington http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/264/index.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/264/index.shtm Jan Lievens: A Dutch Master Rediscovered | October 26, 2008 through January 11, 2009 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Jan Lievens' Enigmatic Career and Relationship with Rembrandt Van Rijn are Reconsidered in an Exhibition at the National Gallery of Art http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/255/index.shtm http://www.nga.gov/press/255/index.shtm Franklin Kelly to Become Deputy Director and Chief Curator of National Gallery of Art in October 2008; Alan 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 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 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 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