Art Down Through the Centuries

Let us just walk across the mall to the magnificent National Gallery of Art. The gallery was opened in 1941. The tour will take you through eight centuries of art. If you are an art lover, you had better start a new day here, since, depending on your favorite art era, it is going to take you several hours of walking, staring, and meditating to cover this wonderful collection. Happily, there are plenty of seats if you want to sit and study any particular work or just rest.

As the Catholic Church was the main patron of the arts between the 13th and the 15th centuries, most of the paintings have religious themes. You will find Giotto’s “Madonna and Child,” Raphael’s “The Alba Madonna” (1508), and works by Leonardo da Vinci. For the 16th century, there are works by Tintoretto, Titian, and others. Bible students will be interested in Tintoretto’s “Christ at the Sea of Galilee” (about 1575/1580), which portrays Christ’s disciples in a storm-tossed fishing boat. Another Biblical reference is El Greco’s “Christ Cleansing the Temple.” Compare the very different styles of these artists​—note El Greco’s vivid colors and dramatic action.

The 17th-century collection includes works by Rubens and Rembrandt, among others. Bible students will again be fascinated by Rubens’ depiction of “Daniel in the Lions’ Den,” painted about 1615. Notice Daniel’s calm as he thanks God for preserving him alive. Now let us take a leap in time to the 19th century and the French Impressionists.

This is one of the best Impressionist collections outside of Paris. If one has lived with prints of paintings for years, it is a thrill to come face-to-face with an original. Famous works by Cézanne, Manet, Renoir, Degas, and Monet will take your breath away as you study their styles and their interpretation of light. Also featured are some outstanding works of such American artists as Mary Cassatt (“Children Playing on a Beach”), James Abbott McNeill Whistler (“The White Girl”), and Winslow Homer (“Breezing Up”).

There is one more exhibition you might want to visit, the East Building, with its collection of modern and contemporary art. In the courtyard, it includes some large sculptures by Alexander Calder, Henry Moore, and others. You will also find a tapestry by the Catalonian artist Joan Miró.

As you can see, the National Gallery will keep you occupied for hours or at least as long as your energy lasts.

[Picture on page 18]

Winslow Homer’s “Breezing Up,” in the National Gallery of Art

[Credit Line]

Winslow Homer, Breezing Up (A Fair Wind), Gift of the W. L. and May T. Mellon Foundation, Image © Board of Trustees, National Gallery of Art, Washington