Paintings and Sculpture Acquired by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, 1945-1951

March 18 – October 31, 1951
Main Floor, Galleries 60 - 67, 71, East Garden Court, Lobby C

This exhibition is no longer on view at the National Gallery.

Overview: A presentation of 116 paintings, 18 works of sculpture, and 1,306 small bronzes, purchased from various sources by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation from 1945 to 1951, was placed on view for the first time. The occasion marked the 10th anniversary of the National Gallery. The works of art were loaned to the Gallery with the expectation that the greater part would eventually become its permanent property. Included were 15th- and 16th-century northern paintings; Italian paintings and sculpture of the Renaissance, baroque, and rococo periods; French paintings and sculpture of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries; and the celebrated collection of medals, coins, and small bronzes assembled by the French connoisseur, Gustave Dreyfus. The special night opening on March 17, 1951, from 9 p.m. until midnight, was attended by 24,350 guests; 16,350 visitors came the following day.

Catalog: Paintings and Sculpture from the Kress Collection Acquired by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, 1945-1951, by William E. Suida. Washington, DC: National Gallery of Art, 1951.
Renaissance Bronzes from the Kress Collection, by Perry B. Cott. Washington, DC: National Gallery of Art, 1951.