National Gallery, Washington DC
Posted On November 26, 2009
The national art Gallery is located on the National Mall in Washington DC. It has got the pride of being the national museum for art. The museum was first opened in the year 1937 and there is no entrance fee if you want to visit the museum. It was construction with funds donated by Andrew W. Mellon and built by the passing of a joint resolution by the United States Congress. Andrew W. Mellon donated a huge amount of art collection to the museum. The collections of the museum also include many donations of art works did by various artists such as Ailsa Mellon Bruce, Paul Mellon. Samuel Henry Kress, Lessing J. Rosenwald, Chester Dale. Rush Harrison Kress, Joseph E. Widener, Peter Arrell Brown Widener. The collection of medals, decorative arts, paintings, sculpture, photographs, prints and drawing will surely give you an idea about the 
development that took place in the western arts from the middle ages till today’s date. The museum include the most ptrecious paintings created by Leonardo da Vinci nd the largest mobile made by Alexander Calder.
The neo-classical building which was designed by the very famous John Russell Pope is also included in the Gallery’s campus. The building is also linked to the modern East building which is located underground as was designed by I.M. Pei. The museum has a 6.1 acre Sculpture Garden in its vicinity. Here mostly the temporary special exhibitions are held.
The building is mostly consist of the Wets building which was constructed in the year 1941 and the East building which was constructed in the year 1978. Both the above mentioned as connected to each other with the help of an under ground path. The west building was then designed by the architect John Russell Pope in the year 1937 as is composed of Pink Tennessee marble. The style of the building is neo-classical; also it has a massive dome and has got its inspiration from the Pantheon in Rome. The East and West are symmetrical as well as a bit large and also they are connected to the central Pavillion. The East building is in contrast to that of the West building. The East building has a cool classicism and is sharply geometrical. When watched from above
the East building givea you a view that the building is made up of many interlocking prisms.
The huge collection of Sculptures and paintings which are created by the European masters and belonging ton the medieval period are placed in the West building. The art works of the American artists of the 19th and 20th century is also displayed in the same building. Few of the most impressive art works are the unique paintings by Leonardo da Vinci, Jan Vermeer, Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet.
Dulles International Airport is the nearest located airport if you are planning to visit national gallery. Dulles International Airport is very well connected with the important national as well as international cities of the world. From the airport you can take a taxi, train or bus to reach the national gallery.
