Resumen: The National Gallery of Art, Washington, is once of the youngest major galleries in the world and it is certainly one of the finest. The idea of creating such a gallery was first discussed in December 1936, and it was a year later that work began on the building.
From the first, the gallery was designed to make use of all the modern technological expertise available, to provide not only a superb setting for the works of art it was intended to hold, but also to ensure that they were housed in such a way, by the use of devices such as air conditioning, filtered air and, even, ultra-violet screening panel at the windows, that the paintings would be as perfectly preserved as possible.
The National Gallery of Art stands between the Capitol and the Washington monument. It occupies a thirteen acre site and is considered to be one of the most imposing neo-classical buildings in the whole of America.
The architect was John Russell Pope, whose early years of study at the American Academy un Rome clearly influenced his choice of design. A central rotunda with a huge coffered dome colonndaded garden courts, porticos, pilasters and niches make up this beautiful building which is constructed in precious marbles.