Annual Report 1993
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1993 ANNUAL REPORT WBBKM NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART 1993 Annual Report Copyright © 1994. Board of Trustees, Details illustrated at section openings: National Gallery of Art. All rights reserved. p. 5: Attributed to Francesco Righetti, Mercury, c. 1780/1800, Andrew W. Mellon Collection, This publication was produced by the Editors 1937.1.131 Office, National Gallery of Art p. 7: Winslow Homer, Breezing Up (A Fair Wind), Editor-in-chief, Frances P. Smyth 1876, Gift of the W. L. and May T. Mellon Foundation, 1943.13.1 Editor, Tarn L. Curry p. 9: Thomas Cole, The Notch of the White Mountains (Crawford Notch), 1839, Andrew W. Mellon Fund, Designed by Susan Lehmann, 1967.8.1 Washington, D.C. p. 13: Lovis Corinth, Girl Reading, 1911, Gift of the Printed by Schneidereith & Sons, Marcy Family in memory of Sigbert H. Marcy Baltimore, Maryland The type is Meridien, set by BG Composition, p. 55: Raphael, Saint George and the Dragon, c. 1506, Andrew W. Mellon Collection, 1937.1.26 Baltimore, Maryland p. 59: Georges Braque, Still Life: Le Jour, 1929, Chester Dale Collection, 1963.10.91 ISBN 0-89468-205-9 p. 67: Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, Mrs. Charles Photographic credits: Badham, 1816, The Armand Hammer Collection, p. 24 © Robert Frank 1991.217.20 p. 71: Jan Gossaert, Portrait of a Merchant, c. 1530, Works of art in the collection were photographed Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund, 1967.4.1 by the department of imaging and visual services. Other photographs by Rex Stucky (p. 8), Shelley p. 81: Franz Innocenz Josef Kobell, Seacoast with a Sturman (p. 10), Sally Freitag (p. 11), Deborah Great Tree, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund, 1993.1.1 Ziska (p. 15), Robert Shelley (pp. 17 and 95), Bill p. 101: Edouard Manet, Flowers in a Crystal Vase, Bowser (p. 36), William D. Wilson (p. 40), and c. 1882, Ailsa Mellon Bruce Collection, 1970.17.37 Lorene Emerson (p. 40) p. 103: Joseph Mallord William Turner, Venice: The Dogana and San Giorgio Maggiore, 1834, Widener Cover: William Michael Harnett, The Old Violin, Collection, 1942.9.85 1886, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Mellon Scaife in p. Ill: Jean-Baptiste Le Prince, Two Russians Seated honor of Paul Mellon, 1993.15.1 in a Landscape, Gift of Arthur L. Liebman, 1992.87.8 pp. 2-3: Bernardo Bellotto, The Fortress of Konigstein, 1756-1758, Patrons' Permanent Fund, 1993.8.1 p. 4: Louise Bourgeois, Untitled, 1952, Gift of the Collectors Committee, 1992.102.1 CONTENTS President's Foreword 7 Gallery Architect 56 Director's Statement 9 Facilities Management 56 Audiovisual Services 56 Art Programs Administrative Services 57 Renaissance Paintings 13 Telecommunications 57 Baroque Paintings 14 Resource Acquisition 57 American and British Paintings 14 Personnel/Affirmative Employment Modern Paintings 14 20th-century Art 16 External Affairs Sculpture and Decorative Arts 19 Development 59 Old Master Drawings 19 Corporate Relations 60 Old Master Prints 20 Press and Public Information 62 Modern Prints and Drawings 21 Special Projects 63 Photographs 23 Special Events 63 Curatorial Records 25 Visitor Services 64 Registration 25 Horticulture 64 Loans and the Music at the Gallery 64 National Lending Service 26 Conservation 27 Center for Advanced Study in the Exhibitions 34 Visual Arts 67 Design and Installation 35 Report of the Treasurer 71 Education 38 Library 46 Appendices Photographic Archives 48 Acquisitions 81 Slide Library 48 Changes of Attribution 86 Editors Office 49 Loans 88 Imaging and Visual Services 52 Lenders 93 Gallery Archives 52 Staff Publications 98 Administration Trustees and Staff 101 Protection Services 55 Publications Sales 55 Donors 111 PRESIDENT'S FOREWORD The 1993 fiscal year was Franklin Mur- ment to support the acquisition of phy's final year as chairman and mem- works of art, was created with a broad ber of the Board of Trustees of the base of donors. The Center for National Gallery. Dr. Murphy has given Advanced Study in the Visual Arts was nearly 30 years of continuous, dynamic founded to enable pre- and postdoctoral leadership to this national institution, research in a setting that brings togeth- providing wise, able, and dedicated er university scholars and museum pro- guidance of the Gallery's artistic and fessionals. Our national advisory board, administrative affairs. We owe him an the Trustees' Council, was established, enormous debt of gratitude for his providing a mechanism for collectors sound and constructive counsel as and supporters from across the country trustee and chairman. Succeeding him to play a significant role in the future of as chairman will be long-time trustee the Gallery. The National Gallery cele- Ruth Carter Stevenson. brated its 50th anniversary and experi- I too am stepping down this year as a enced a tremendous outpouring of phil- member of the Board of Trustees and as anthropic support that enhanced the president of the National Gallery, to be permanent collections. succeeded in the latter role by general I feel deeply grateful for the opportu- trustee Robert H. Smith. In my own 18 nity I have had to collaborate with the years of service on the Board, including dedicated trustees, volunteers, and staff 14 years as president, I have witnessed who have been charged with the lead- many remarkable achievements in the ership of the National Gallery. It has history of the Gallery. The East Build- been a privilege to serve with Paul Mel- ing, one of the most beautiful contem- lon and other private citizens and with porary structures in the world, was con- some of the highest-ranking public ser- structed under the inspired architectural vants in the United States, all of whom direction of I. M. Pei, with the dedica- have shared remarkable foresight and tion of Paul Mellon to the best tradi- commitment to the role of a national tions of the Gallery and with J. Carter art gallery in our cultural life. I have Franz Kline, Untitled, 1950s (detail), Brown as our hands-on director. The been fortunate to work with directors Gift of Elisabeth R. Zogbaum, 1993.5.2 Patrons' Permanent Fund, an endow- J. Carter Brown and Earl A. Powell III 7 and with the Gallery's capable and ded- This year we welcomed John H. Bryan John R. Stevenson and Franklin D. Murphy (far icated executive officers, who con- from Chicago, Calvin Cafritz from left) display the medals they were given at a gala dinner in their honor. Ruth Carter Stevenson tribute so much to the Gallery's success. Washington, D.C., Doris Fisher from (right) becomes chairman of the Board of Trustees, Four members of the Trustees' Coun- San Francisco, Julie Folger from Wash- and Robert H. Smith (lower middle; with his father, cil resigned from service this year. They ington, D.C., Camilla Chandler Frost Charles E. Smith) becomes president of the Gallery. Among special guests was Lee Annenberg (shown are Pamela C. Harriman, George F. from Los Angeles, and David O. at top with Dr. Murphy). Jewett, Jr., Sydney Lewis, and Frederick Maxwell from Washington, D.C., as R. Mayer. We are most appreciative of new members of the Council. Mr. the time and effort these people have Bryan, Mrs. Fisher, and Mr. Maxwell contributed during their terms as Coun- additionally serve on the Trustees' from the federal government for the cil members. We are delighted that Mrs. Council development committee. The Gallery's day-to-day operations, along Harriman is now serving as U.S. Gallery enjoys the very capable leader- with the ongoing generosity of private Ambassador to France. ship of Earl A. Powell III, who has just philanthropic support for many pro- While I look back on the past with concluded his first year as director, and grams and initiatives, including all pride, I look ahead to the Gallery's the continued support of director emer- acquisition of art through funds or in future with confidence. The Gallery has itus J. Carter Brown. kind. vital leadership among trustees, volun- This institution will have a successful The trustees of the Gallery have teers, and staff. The Board of Trustees future also because it upholds the charted a sound course for the future continues to build upon its strengths, enduring values that have been held through the goals they have set for the with Mrs. Stevenson as the new chair- since its beginning. The Gallery follows remainder of the decade: to protect, man, Mr. Smith as the new president, the vision and standard of quality of its preserve, and enhance the Gallery's col- continuing general trustee Alexander distinguished founder, Andrew Mellon. lections, buildings, and research capa- M. Laughlin, and new members It holds fast to its mission to serve the bilities; to sustain its leadership in pro- Robert F. Erburu of Los Angeles and United States by preserving, collecting, viding national educational service; to Louise W. Mellon of Middleburg, Vir- exhibiting, and fostering understanding foster international exchange; and to ginia. These five general trustees com- of works of art with the highest possible position itself strategically and financial- bine with four ex officio trustees to museum and scholarly standards. It ly to meet the challenges of the next form the full Board. The Board contin- maintains the partnership of public and century. ues to benefit from the involvement of private resources that support it. a very supportive Trustees' Council, led We acknowledge with gratitude the John R. Stevenson by Edwin L. Cox and Lois de Menil. continuing commitment of funds President DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT This annual report marks my first full the Gallery's collection, including four year as director of the National Gallery cityscapes by Canaletto and two later of Art. It has been a year that, among paintings by Bellotto.