National Gallery of Arts - By travel authority Howard Hillman

National Gallery of Art

insights you can trust

Why the
National Gallery of Arts
is special

The National Gallery of Arts in Washington, D.C. has an extensive collection of artwork of the masters from the Middle Ages to the modern era.

National Gallery of Arts
tips and insights

When to come

Avoid Sunday afternoons if possible. It is most crowded then. Mornings are better. Also, weekdays are better than weekends - and winter is better than summer.

Buildings

There are two, each with a different focus:

West Wing

It has a neo-classic architectural design. It houses precious paintings and sculptures by European and American masters. The list includes Botticelli, El Greco, Raphael, Renoir, Rembrandt (see his self-portrait above), and Whistler. The West Wing also boasts the only Leonardo da Vinci painting in the Western Hemisphere.

East Wing

It is a striking ultramodern building freely using angular shapes. It features works by the likes of Picasso, Matisse and Warhol. The skylit atrium is dominated by a suspended Calder mobile.

There is also a large outdoor sculpture garden.