Annual Report 1991
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National Gallery of Art 1991 ANNUAL REPORT IB 1991 ANNUAL REPORT 1991 ANNUAL REPORT National Gallery of Art Copyright © 1992. Board of Trustees, National Gallery of Art All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. 20565 Photographs on p. 33, © August Sander Archive; p. 46, © Robert Frank; and p. Ill, © Estate of Walker Evans This publication was produced by the Editors Office, National Gallery of Art Edited by Tarn L. Curry Designed by Susan Lehmann, Washington, D.C. Printed by Schneidereith & Sons, Baltimore, Maryland The type is Bodoni Book, set by BG Composition, Baltimore, Maryland Photo credits: Dean A. Beasom, this page and pp. 19, 20, 23, 25, 26, 29, 31, 33, 42, 46, 69, 71, 73, 78, 92,97, 111, 128 Dennis Brack, Black Star, p. 100 Kathleen Buckalew, pp. 2-3, 50, 75 Richard A. Carafelli, pp. 7, 36, 40, 57, 83, 88, 95 Jacques-Louis David, Thirius de Pautrizel, c. 1795 Philip A. Charles, pp. 8, 17, 37, 41, 48, 55, Gift of Walter H. and Leonore Annenberg, in Honor of the 86, 109 Fiftieth Anniversary of the National Gallery of Art, Jose Naranjo, p. 11 1990.47.2 James Pipkin, cover William D. Wilson, p. 106 ISBN 0-89468-174-5 Pages 2-3: Installation of "animobiles" by Alexander Calder, 1970-1976 Gift of Mrs. Paul Mellon, 1991.7.6-15 Contents President's Preface 6 Administration Director's Report 9 Protection Services 87 Publication Sales 88 Art Programs Gallery Architect 90 Acquisitions 15 Facilities Management 91 Renaissance Paintings 34 Resource Acquisition 92 Baroque Paintings 34 Personnel 92 American and British Paintings 36 Office Services 93 Modern Paintings 37 Telecommunications 93 Twentieth-Century Art 38 Audiovisual Services 93 Sculpture and Decorative Arts 40 Old Master Drawings 41 External Affairs Old Master Prints 43 Development 95 Modern Prints and Drawings 44 Corporate Relations 96 Photographs 46 Press and Public Information 98 Exhibitions 47 Special Events 99 Design and Installation 49 Visitor Services 99 Lenders 52 Horticulture 100 Conservation 55 Music at the Gallery 101 Registration and Loans 60 Center for Advanced Study Research on Collections 62 in the Visual Arts 103 Changes of Attribution 63 Loans 65 Staff Activities and Publications 109 Education 70 Financial Report 117 Library 7 8 Photographic Archives 80 Trustees and Staff 129 Slide Library 82 Donors 137 Editors Office 82 Photographic Services 84 Gallery Archives 84 President's Preface The 1991 fiscal year was a time of memo- motivation of the staff that keep the Na- rable celebration for the National Gallery tional Gallery a vibrant and dynamic as we witnessed an unprecedented out- institution. pouring of generosity on the occasion of As president, I meet on a monthly the institution's fiftieth anniversary. Col- basis with the Gallery's other executive lectors from all across the United States officers in order to remain fully abreast of and Europe committed works of art for the institution's daily operations. Further, the permanent collection in virtually luncheons are held at the time of the reg- every area in which the Gallery collects, ular board committee meetings during filling important needs in our holdings. which the trustees meet, on a rotating In addition to gifts-in-kind, significant basis, with senior staff to hear in detail funds were contributed for art purchase, about their various departments. and under the leadership of Robert H. The board of trustees continues to be Smith, the 50th Anniversary Gift Commit- greatly aided in its work by the assistance tee surpassed its goal of $5 million by and involvement of the Trustees' Council, contributing a total of $6 million for art which was headed this year by John C. acquisition. In all, close to $25 million Whitehead. We are very pleased that Ed- was pledged in support of fiftieth anniver- win L. Cox will succeed him next year as sary programs. Council chairman, and that John White- We also recognize with gratitude the head will continue as chairman of the continuing commitment of funds the Gal- Trustees' Council development lery receives from the federal government committee. to provide for its day-to-day operations. We are pleased to welcome W. Lyons The Gallery has been fortunate to have Brown, Jr., of Louisville, Kentucky, long enjoyed the generous support of The Louisa Duemling of Washington, D C., Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. In honor Teresa Heinz of Washington, D C., and of the Gallery's anniversary, the Founda- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Louise Mellon tion granted $7.5 million to endow three of Amherst, New Hampshire, and Andrea senior positions: a Mellon Senior Curator, Woodner of Washington, D C., as new a Mellon Professor at the Center for Ad- Council members. Arthur Altschul, vanced Study in the Visual Arts, and Ronald Lauder, and Edward Swenson Head of Scientific Research in the con- completed their terms of service this year, servation division. These new positions and we are very appreciative of the time will make a permanent, qualitative differ- and effort they have contributed during ence in the Gallery's ability to care for their tenures as Council members. and interpret its collections. My fellow We celebrate with pride the accom- trustees and I are particularly apprecia- plishments of five decades, but we are tive of the Mellon Foundation's recog- also mindful of our continuing responsi- nition that it is the excellence and bility to plan for the future. During the 6 Jusepe de Ribera, The Martyrdom of Saint year we began a formal process of long- collections for a growing international Bartholomew, 1634 (detail) range planning, which will identify future constituency. Gift of the 50th Anniversary Gift Committee, 1990.137.1 needs and priorities as well as formulate The Gallery's fiftieth anniversary cele- strategies for meeting those challenges. A bration has affirmed the continuing im- key element of our plan will be targeting portance and relevance of a national ways in which the Gallery can be of maxi- gallery in our cultural life. The extraordi- mum service on a national basis. nary level of enthusiasm and involvement The continual growth in the area of demonstrated by individuals, founda- communications technology has not gone tions, and corporations during this anni- unnoticed by the Gallery. We remain at versary year is above all a tribute to the the forefront in the museum world in exceptional vision of the Gallery's foun- bringing new technology, such as digital der, Andrew Mellon. We are grateful to all imaging and videodiscs, into the service those who continue to help sustain his im- of art education. As we sense increasingly portant legacy. that we live in a "global village," the Gal- lery has also expanded its efforts to reach new audiences through a wide variety of outreach programs, including new forms John R. Stevenson of access to the Gallery's programs and President 7 Director's Report Since the National Gallery of Art opened Bolero in "Chilperic " from Betsey Gush- its doors to the public fifty years ago, on ing Whitney in honor of John Hay 17 March 1941, there have been over Whitney; Van Gogh's Roses from Pamela 138 million visits to it. In addition, since C. Harriman in memory of the late W. 1952 our extension programs have Averell Harriman; Cezanne's Boy in a reached a cumulative audience of many Red Waistcoat pledged by Paul Mellon; hundreds of millions more, by circulating and other great treasures in many media free films, slides, videodiscs, and cas- discussed more fully in the body of this settes to schools, hospitals, senior citizens report. Distinguished donors included the groups, and local television and radio sta- Gallery's Collectors Committee and nu- tions. Among the most satisfying testi- merous artists. A lavishly illustrated cata- monies to the Gallery's effectiveness are logue, with object entries written by the letters and comment cards that pour virtually every curator on the staff, was in from private citizens, with praise that produced by our editors office under tre- confirms that our dedication to excellence mendous time constraints as gifts contin- does somehow come across. ued to flow in. The fiftieth anniversary year offered Subsequently, we continued to receive special opportunities to recognize the Gal- anniversary gifts, a selection of which will lery's unique history, to launch major new be displayed with other recent acquisi- initiatives, and to continue engaging visi- tions in a second exhibition in May 1992. tors with our collections and exhibitions. Undoubtedly, the Congress' decision to During this celebration the extraordinary lift the tax penalties for giving works of art generosity of the Gallery's friends and do- near the end of our campaign helped in- nors has enriched our collections and spire a cornucopia of donations to the programs immeasurably. Gallery, as well as to other museums Art for the Nation: Gifts in Honor of the around the country, although many of the 50th Anniversary of the National Gallery anniversary gifts were initiated before the of Art exhibited a selection of nearly three tax provisions were modified. Visitors will hundred of the works of art given or be able to enjoy the munificence of these pledged to the Gallery by over 220 do- anniversary-year contributions forever. nors from twenty-two states, the District All of these special gifts realize an im- of Columbia, and five foreign countries. It portant aspect of the vision of the Gal- was generously supported by a grant from lery's founder, Andrew Mellon, who felt, GTE. Among the magnificent works of art as his son Paul said at the inaugural cele- on view were the Gallery's first painting brations fifty years ago, that the Gallery Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Marcelle Lender Danc- by Jusepe de Ribera, The Martyrdom of "would become a joint enterprise of the ing the Bolero in "Chilperic1895-1896 (detail) Saint Bartholomew, from the 50th Anni- government on the one hand, and of mag- Gift (Partial and Promised) of Betsey Gushing Whitney in Honor of John Hay Whitney, for the Fiftieth Anniversary of versary Gift Committee; Toulouse- nanimous citizens on the other.