Knife Edge Mirror Two Piece executed by Henry Moore from 1976-1978, sits outside the west entrance of the National Gallery of Art's East Building. The 5-ton bronze sculpture was a gift of The Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation.
The National Gallery of Art, administered by the Smithsonian Institute, was established on the National in 1938 by the United States Congress with funds for construction and a substantial art collection donated by Andrew W. Mellon, major art works donated by Lessing J. Rosenwald, Italian art contributions from Samuel Henry Kress, and more than 2,000 sculptures, paintings, pieces of decorative art, and porcelains from Joseph E. Widener.
The museum comprises two building, the neoclassical West Building, designed by John Russell Pope in 1937, and the geometrical East Building, designed by I.M. Pei in 1978, which are linked by a spacious underground concourse resting beneath a series of terahedron "crystal" skylights. The West Building has an extensive collection of paintings and sculptures by European masters from the medieval period through the late 19th century, as well as pre-20th century works by American artists. The East Building focuses on modern and contemporary art. To the west of the West Building, across Seventh Street, is the 6.1 acres Sculpture Garden.
The Smithsonian Institution, an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its shops and its magazines, was established in 1846. Although concentrated in Washington DC, its collection of over 136 million items is spread through 19 museums, a zoo, and nine research centers from New York to Panama.
Tags: Knife Edge Mirror Two Piece Henry Moore sculpture National Gallery of Art museum Smithsonian DC DCist Washington DC the mall mall national mall Smithsonian Institute Smithsonian Institution
Horse and Rider was executed in 1952-1953 by Marino Marini. The 81 1/2-inch tall abstract bronze piece depicts a mounted figure with its arms extended and its head turned toward the sky. The horse stands on all fours with its head turned toward the sky. It was acquired as a gift of Joseph H. Hirshhorn in 1966, purchased directly from the artist.
The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, with an emphasis on contemporary and modern art, was established by Act of Congress in 1966. Gordon Bunshaft's museum and 4-acre garden complex with a two-level sculpture garden opened along the National Mall in 1974.
The Smithsonian Institution, an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its shops and its magazines, was established in 1846. Although concentrated in Washington DC, its collection of over 136 million items is spread through 19 museums, a zoo, and nine research centers from New York to Panama.
Tags: horse and rider marino marini washington dc district of columbia dc dcist Hirshorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Hirshorn Museum Hirshorn Sculpture Garden sculpture garden museum smithsonian Smithsonian Institution National Mall sculpture
Voltri XV, a steel sculpture, was executed in 1962 by David Smith. The abstract piece is created out of cut and welded pieces of scrap metal asssembled to resemble clouds passing by the sun or moon. It was acquired by gift of Joseph H. Hirshhorn in 1966, purchased from Marlborough Galleria D'arte, Rome in 1965.
The Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, with an emphasis on contemporary and modern art, was established by Act of Congress in 1966. Gordon Bunshaft's museum and 4-acre garden complex with a two-level sculpture garden opened along the National Mall in 1974.
The Smithsonian Institution, an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its shops and its magazines, was established in 1846. Although concentrated in Washington DC, its collection of over 136 million items is spread through 19 museums, a zoo, and nine research centers from New York to Panama.
Tags: Voltri XV voltri david smith washington dc district of columbia dc dcist Hirshorn Museum and Sculpture Garden Hirshorn Museum Hirshorn Sculpture Garden sculpture garden museum smithsonian Smithsonian Institution National Mall sculpture abstract abstract expressionism
James Smithson, the founder of the Smithsonian Institution, died at Genoa Italy on June 26, 1829. These remians were brought to the United States in 1906 for reinterment in the gate of the Institution he founded.
The Smithsonian Institution Building, popularly known as the "Castle," at 1000 Jefferson Drive, SW, houses the Smithsonian Institution's administrative offices and information center. Constructed of red sandstone from Seneca Creek, Maryland, the building was designed in the Norman style by architect James Renwick, Jr., and completed in phases between 1849 and 1855. The building served as a home for the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Joseph Henry and his family. Until 1881, it also housed all aspects of Smithsonian operations, including research and administrative offices, lectures halls, exhibit halls, a library and reading room, and chemical laboratories. Today, the Castle houses the Institution's administrative offices and the Smithsonian Information Center.
The Smithsonian Institution, an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its shops and its magazines, was established in 1846. Although concentrated in Washington DC, its collection of over 136 million items is spread through 19 museums, a zoo, and nine research centers from New York to Panama.
National Register #66000867 (1966)
Tags: James Smithson crypt Smithsonian Smithsonian Institution museum District of Columbia DC Washington DC DCist castle smithsonian castle Smithsonian Institution Building the castle national register of historic places landmark nhl NRHP U.S. National Register of Historic Places National Historic Landmark U.S. National Historic Landmark
The Arts and Industries Building, at 900 Jefferson Drive, SW, is the second oldest of the buildings administered by the Smithsonian Institute on the National Mall. It was built as the original home for the National Museum collection, which had previously been housed in the Smithsonian Institution Building. Designed in High Victorian Style by architects Adolf Cluss and Paul Schulze based on plans by General Montgomery C. Meigs, the building opened in 1881, hosting an inaugural ball for President James A. Garfield.
In 1910 the museum's natural history collections were moved to the new National Museum of Natural History, and the old museum was given its present name. In 1964 the remaining exhibitions were moved to the National Museum of History and Technology, now known as the National Museum of American History. The Arts and Industries Building was closed from 1974 to 1976 when it reopened with the exhibit, "1876: A Centennial Exhibition."
The National Museum Building was designed with a symmetrical plan, composed of a Greek cross and central rotunda. The exterior was composed of geometric brick patterns of red, black, buff and blue. Each façade faced a cardinal direction and had an entrance in the center which led to naves directed towards the central rotunda. Columbia Protecting Science Industry, executed by Caspar Buberl in 1881, was placed above the north entrance. The interior of the building was divided into windowed ranges and covered courts with skylights and clerestory windows. The naves, courts and ranges were divided by arcades of round arches resting on piers. In 1883, the walls were changed from a uniform gray color stone to a more colorful scheme using a maroon color up to twelve feet with gray above and stencils on the walls of the central rotunda.
The Smithsonian Institution, an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its shops and its magazines, was established in 1846. Although concentrated in Washington DC, its collection of over 136 million items is spread through 19 museums, a zoo, and nine research centers from New York to Panama.
National Register #71000994 (1971)
Tags: Arts and Industries Building Smithsonian National Museum Smithsonian Institution museum victorian Cluss and Schulze High Victorian Cluss & Schulze District of Columbia DC Washington DC DCist national register of historic places landmark nhl late victorian adolf cuss paul schulze General Montgomery C. Meigs Montgomery C. Meigs NRHP U.S. National Register of Historic Places National Historic Landmark U.S. National Historic Landmark