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National Gallery of Art Washington acquires more than 6,000 artworks from the Corcoran Gallery of Art

Albert Bierstadt: Mount Corcoran

Albert Bierstadt: “Mount Corcoran”, c. 1876-1877
oil on canvas, Unframed: 60 11/16 x 95 7/8 in. (154.1 x 243.5 cm)
framed: 84 5/8 x 119 x 8 1/2 in. (214.9 x 302.3 x 21.6 cm)
National Gallery of Art, Corcoran Collection (Museum purchase, Gallery Fund)

NGA Washington acquires 6,430 artworks from Corcoran The National Gallery of Art, Washington, announced that 6,430 works of art have been selected from more than 17,000 Corcoran works in the Gallery’s custody to join the nation’s collection of European and American art.]]>

February 8, 2015, source: National Gallery of Art, Washington

As curators continue to review the collection of the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the newly accessioned objects will have an immediate impact across NGA’s collections and will be particularly transformative for its holdings of American art in all media.

“This is an historic moment for the National Gallery of Art, which has an important responsibility as a steward of the renowned Corcoran collection,” said Earl A. Powell III, director of the National Gallery of Art. “We look forward to bringing this art to a larger audience, creating myriad new experiences for learning and enjoyment. The success of this continuing endeavor is dependent on the knowledge and hard work of many dedicated staff. We are all deeply grateful for the support of our trustees, colleagues, and friends.”

According to Harry Hopper, the Corcoran’s chairman, “The first priority of the Corcoran trustees was the preservation of the Corcoran’s collection, college, iconic building, and legacy. The National Gallery of Art’s initial accessioning of our works into their collection is an important step toward ensuring the legacy of the Corcoran and its renowned collection for generations to come. There is still much work to be done and we look forward to our continuing collaborative efforts with the National Gallery.”

The 6,430 works acquired by the NGA include masterpieces from different schools and periods. The group of American paintings is highlighted by Albert Bierstadt’s “The Last of the Buffalo” (1888) and “Mount Corcoran” (c. 1876–1877), Frederic Edwin Church’s “Niagara” (1857), and Edward Hopper’s “Ground Swell” (1939). From the French School, the NGA will get Eugène Delacroix’s masterful “Tiger and Snake” (1862) and a good selection of Impressionist works, such as Claude Monet’s “The Willows” (1880). Dutch paintings include Rembrandt’s “Man with Sheet of Music” (1633). From the British School, Joseph Mallord William Turner’s “Boats Carrying out Anchors and Cables to the Dutch Men of War” (c. 1804), is the earliest painting by the English master to join NGA’s important Turner collection.

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National Gallery of Art Washington acquires more than 6,000 artworks from the Corcoran Gallery of Art