NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART IN WASHINGTON WORKS: THE MASTERPIECES YOU SHOULDN’T MISS
National Gallery of Art in Washington works, which ones to see before exiting one of the largest and most important museums in the world?
This museum houses the most complete art collection of the United States, built up in 1937 thanks to the works of art donated by American banker and art collector Andrew W. Mellon.
In this post you’ll find the unmissable masterpieces at the National Gallery of Art in Washington.
National Gallery of Art in Washington works
The National Gallery of Art in Washington is a museum you must see at least once in your lifetime, but thanks to new technologies you can visit it virtually. In fact, the museum has made available free download of high-resolution images.
An inestimable heritage of more than 35,000 works of art of the gallery you can admire freely to know and enjoy them.
NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART IN WASHINGTON WORKS TO SEE
Before showing you which the unmissable works of art at the National Gallery of Art in Washington are, here is my advice on how to plan your visit well.
A good solution to prevent you from wasting your time is to plan a guided tour, available only in English, which in only 2 hours will make you discover the most beautiful works on display.
To book your tour all you have to do is visit the page Guided tour of the National Gallery of Art where you’ll find all details.
So, here are the works you must see at the National Gallery of Art in Washington!
LEONARDO DA VINCI – GINEVRA DE’ BENCI (AROUND 1474/1478)
LEONARDO DA VINCI – GINEVRA DE’ BENCI (AROUND 1474/1478)
Ginevra de’ Benci belonged to a family closed to Leonardo da Vinci, since in the house of these wealthy bankers hung “The Adoration of the Magi” painted by the artist himself.
Ginevra was an educated woman, and in this painting is portrayed in a half-lenght and three-quarter pose, facing right.
According to documents and historians, the painting was cut down along the bottom, and now we can’t admire Ginevra’s hands anymore that, maybe, were placed like Mona Lisa’s.
JOHANNES VERMEER – GIRL WITH THE RED HAT (AROUND 1665/1666)
This painting is one of Vermeer’s tronies, works common in Dutch painting.
They are depictions of biblical, historical or antique characters in historic or eccentric costume.
In this case Vermeer portrays a girl in a half-lenght pose wearing a red and feathered hat, while facing the observer.
JOHANNES VERMEER – GIRL WITH THE RED HAT (AROUND 1665/1666)
VAN GOGH – SELF-PORTRAIT (1889)
During his life Van Gogh painted around 40 self-portraits, and one of those hangs in Washington.
The painting seems to be a study on himself and a way to investigate his anguished soul.
VAN GOGH – SELF-PORTRAIT (1889)
CLAUDE MONET – WOMAN WITH A PARASOL-MADAME MONET AND HER SON (1875)
The main characters of the painting are the artist’s wife, Camille Monet, and their son, Jean Monet.
The painting was executed during the Monet family’s stay in Argenteuil, and here the painter is able to create a spontaneous scene where the light occupies the whole space.
It feels like you can feel the wind blowing and the point of view allows us to observe the scene from below upwards.
CLAUDE MONET – CLAUDE MONET – WOMAN WITH A PARASOL-MADAME MONET AND HER SON (1875)