The Smithsonian American Art Museum began as an art gallery in the Smithsonian Institution Building, the Castle. A National Gallery of Art was formally created in 1906 in the US National Museum. In 1968, the collection moved to the American Art and Portrait Galleries, and its Renwick Gallery opened in 1972.
The National Collection of Fine Arts (NCFA), now known as the Smithsonian American Art Museum, is located on this side of the Old Patent Office Building at 8th and G Streets, N.W. The National Portrait Gallery is located on the opposite side (not shown in photograph). The Old Patent Office building is a Greek Revival structure, built (1836-66) by Robert Mills and became home to the National Collection of Fine Arts (NCFA) in 1968. In 1980, NCFA was renamed the National Museum of American Art (NMAA), and then in 2000 it became known as the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM).
Set of two photographs showing two views of "America" on exhibition in the West Wing of the Smithsonian Institution Building. The full size terra-cotta reproduction of one of the marble corner pieces from the Albert Memorial in Hyde Park, London was on loan from Henry Doulton and Co. of England. The sculpture went on display with other objects from the 1876 Centennial Exhibition.
"A corner of the Picture Gallery in the Old United States National Museum Building [now the Arts and Industries Building], November, 1906, before it had been entirely remodeled, showing a part of the Harriet Lane Johnston Collection, William Henry Holmes, September 28, 1920." Image shows paintings on the wall and sculpture on pedestals. At this time, the Smithsonian's art collection was designated the National Gallery of Art, now the National Museum of American Art.
Visitors attend an opening reception at the National Gallery of Art, now the Smithsonian American Art Museum, in the United States National Museum building, now the National Museum of Natural History for an exhibit of 29 paintings of Gaucho Life in Argentina by Cesareo Bernaldo de Quiros.
In the Natural History Building, entrance is to "George Catlin's Indian Gallery" in the Art Hall, National Collection of Fine Arts, now known as the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The gallery displayed four hundred George Catlin Indian paintings. The original paintings were acquired by the Smithsonian Institution in 1879 and first exhibited in 1883 in the Smithsonian Institution Building, the "Castle." In the 1900s the majority were placed in the Anthropological Collection from which the paintings for this exhibit were loaned. The paintings were cleaned and renovated to be displayed in this new exhibit, "George Catlin's Indian Gallery," which was shown from July 19 to September 19, 1965, and were mounted "in a setting and manner approximating Catlin's own gallery of the mid-19th century."
In 1966 in the Natural History Building, the National Collection of Fine Arts, now the Smithsonian American Art Museum, presented an exhibition of drawings by Jasper Johns.
In the old Patent Office Building, home to the National Collection of Fine Arts, now the Smithsonian American Art Museum, exhibits of modern art are displayed in the Lincoln Gallery.
With the courtyard entrance doors on the left and looking toward the Grantie Gallery, the National Collection of Fine Arts, now the Smithsonian American Art Museum, occupies the old Patent Office Building.
Fritz Scholder (right), leader of the New Indian Painter Group, standing in front of "Indian and Rhinoceros" during a reception at an exhibit of work by Scholder and fellow Indian painter T.C. Cannon at the National Collection of Fine Arts, now the National Museum of American Art. Subsequent to its showing at National Collection of Fine Arts, April 7-May 31, 1972, the exhibit toured Europe in cooperation with the U.S. Information Agency.
William Truettner, Curator of 18th and 19th Century Painting and Sculpture at the National Museum of American Art (NMAA), now known as the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM), and President Ronald Reagan viewing the exhibition, "George Catlin: The Artist and the American Indian."
Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture, renovation of courtyard.
Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture
Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture interior hallway.
Stereo view of the exterior of the original Corcoran Gallery of Art, today it is the Renwick Gallery, with statues by Moses Ezekiel visible in niches along the south facade. Awnings cover the first story windows.
Hall of Bronzes (looking north), Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. A stereoview showing the original interior of the building designed by James Renwick, Jr. to house the first Corcoran Gallery of Art.
Renwick Administrator Lloyd E. Herman (1972-1986), wearing a cummerbund made of leftover drapery material from the Grand Salon, examining woodworks of craftsman Wendell Castle at the opening of the Renwick Gallery, January 27, 1972.
View is the Grand Salon in the Renwick Gallery, under the auspices of the Smithsonian American Art Museum. The salon was restored to evoke the time when the Corcoran Gallery of Art and its school occupied this building located at 17th and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Many paintings have been hung on the walls.
The interior of the Renwick Gallery, part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, shows the hallway and staircase and looks towards the doorway of the Grand Salon. The building, originally the home of the Corcoran Gallery of Art, was designed by architect James Renwick, Jr., and is located on Pennsylvania Avenue across the street from the White House.
Placement of statue of Esteban Murillo on exterior second-floor niches of Renwick Gallery; Professor Renato Lucchetti did the casting, 4 February 1974.
Santana Martinez, whose work was on exhibit at the Renwick Gallery in "Maria Martinez: Five Generations of Potters" (March 31- August 13,1978), polishing a pot.