Video Resource

Programs about the National Gallery of Art

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Duration

1 hour, 51 minutes (total)

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These four programs provide detailed views about the National Gallery of Art, and its history, development, and construction; founder Andrew W. Mellon; and architects John Russell Pope and I. M. Pei. Rare photographs and archival film footage are also included. This film is available to be licensed to affiliates.

The Programs about the National Gallery of Art DVD compilation includes the following titles:

  • The Quiet Collector: Andrew W. Mellon Remembered Andrew W. Mellon was a man of numerous accomplishments. But his gift to the nation of the National Gallery of Art, with his own collection of masterpieces as the nucleus, ranks among his most enduring contributions. This program emphasizes Mellon's life as a collector and his dedication to his vision of a national art gallery for the American people.
    30 minutes
  • John Russell Pope: Architect of the National Gallery of Art
    This film provides an in-depth look at the history of the National Gallery's West Building. It focuses on Pope's architectural career and includes archival construction photographs and reproductions of original drawings of the building.
    18 minutes
  • The National Gallery Builds
    This film highlights the East Building's architectural conception and construction, beginning with the challenge initially faced by architect I. M. Pei. Documentation of construction includes footage of the works of art commissioned for the building from artists such as Henry Moore and Alexander Calder.
    13 minutes
  • National Gallery of Art: A Treasury of Masterpieces
    The late J. Carter Brown, the National Gallery's director from 1969 to 1992, tells the fascinating story of the museum's beginnings and its growth. Illustrated with rare photographs and historical footage, this film shows the founding of the Gallery and the formation of its collections. The unfolding story relates the construction of the original West Building and of the East Building some 40 years later. It documents the evolution of the Gallery into an institution that serves the entire nation. Finally, Brown leads viewers on tours of the West and East Buildings to give an overview of the Gallery's collections.
    50 minutes

All programs are closed captioned.

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