: In one of the most significant donations of American art in
recent memory, art historian John Wilmerding has presented the
National Gallery of Art with 51 works by 26 American artists from
his personal collection. With painters ranging from Bingham to
Church and Homer to Eakins, the Wilmerding trove fills important
gaps in the National Gallery's American collection and adds depth
in other areas.
The works are showcased in an exhilarating exhibition, "American
Masters from Bingham to Eakins: The John Wilmerding Collection,"
on view at the National Gallery through January 30. It is curated
by Franklin Kelly, the gallery's senior curator of American and
British paintings, who also wrote major portions of the
accompanying catalog.
Calling Wilmerding "one of the most respected and widely known
authorities on American art," National Gallery director Earl A.
Powell III said the donation is "cause for celebration."
