Release Date: February 16, 2001

National Gallery of Art Launches New Audio Tour of Dutch and Flemish Paintings for Young Visitors

Washington, DC—The National Gallery of Art is introducing Adventures in Art, a new family audio tour especially for young visitors ages five and up. Using exciting dramatization, interactive games, music, and poetry, the new audio program, written and produced by Acoustiguide, helps children explore the Gallerys Dutch and Flemish collection. Young narrators and a resident expArt (art expert) interact with characters in the paintings and explain symbolism, provide historical information, and help children study scenes found in these world-famous works of art. The audio program covers twenty-one paintings, including Johannes Vermeers A Lady Writing (c. 1665) and Rembrandt van Rijns Self-Portrait (1659).

The new family audio tour of Dutch and Flemish paintings is another opportunity for young people to examine the nations art, said Earl A. Powell III, director, National Gallery of Art. With this audio tour and our children's Web site, NGAkids, the Gallery continues to explore ways to capture the imagination of the younger generation and introduce them to the principles of art history.

Since Thanksgiving Day 2000, when the family audio tour debuted, Sir Peter Paul Rubens Daniel in the Lions Den (c. 1613/1615) has emerged as a favorite of many young visitors. The audio program covers the biblical story of Daniels life-threatening encounter with lions and gives interesting background information about the artist.

The audio program is offered on Acoustiguide's state-of-the-art MP3 digital players and is available for rental in the West Building Rotunda for $3.

For an additional $2 adults may rent headphones to follow along.