East
Building, 600 Constitution Ave. NW
(202) 737-4215
The
National Gallery of Art is a world-renowned collection of
American and European paintings, sculptures and graphic arts.
Separated by 4th street on the National Mall, the National
Gallery is divided into the West Building and the East Building
designed by I.M. Pei.
The National Gallery of
Art is divided into two buildings, the West Building and the
East Building. If one wanted to tour the Gallery in
chronological order, they would want to start in the West
Building.
Starting with works from
the 13th century, highlights of the West Building include works
of Titian, Renoir, Monet and Rubens.
Home
to a permanent collection of works from the 13th – 19th
century, the West Building of the National Gallery of Art also
has temporary exhibits. This summer the "Collector’s
Cabinet" exhibit is featured. It consists of diminutive
17th century Dutch and Flemish works of art. The Gallery is open
every day and conducts multi-lingual tours. A tape-recorded tour
is also available for $4.
The East Building of the
National Gallery was designed by I.M. Pei, and is a notable for
several features -the most famous of which is the sharp angle of
the southwest corner that has been rounded by thousands of
visitors touching the wall.
Inside the building is a
collection of modern art. The huge Alexander Calder mobile
"untitled" that is suspended from the atrium is a
great invitation to the exhibits. Like the West Building, the
East building has an enormous permanent collection as well as
temporary exhibits. Permanent pieces include works by Picasso,
Miro, Kandinsky and Pollack.
The inside tip is to take the tours that are available
throughout the day. Call (202) 842-6246 for tour information.
There is simply too much in the Galleries to see.
Another tip that will make
you feel like an insider is to touch the angled wall that is the
southwest outside corner of the museum. Thousands of visitors
have touched the wall, and have rounded the once sharp corner.
Consider it an initiation ritual.
Hours:
Mon-Sat 10:00am- 5:00pm , Sun 11:00am- 6:00pm
Admission:
Free
Metro:
Archives/Navy Memorial
NATIONAL
GALLERY OF ART
ATTRACTIONS
