The National Gallery of Art, Washington

Description

The National Gallery of Art in Washington has its origins in the private collection of Andrew W. Mellon. In the 1930s Mellon promoted the creation of this museum: in 1931 he bought 21 paintings with the idea that they would form part of the institution's collection; in 1935 he commissioned the architect John Russell Pope to design the building; a year later he wrote to Roosevelt to tell him about his idea and in 1937 Congress approved the creation of the museum. In December 1940 the building is completed and on March 17, 1941 President Roosevelt inaugurates the gallery. The National Gallery of Art houses numerous works of art from Castilla y León, including the Adoration of the Magi by Juan de Flandes from the Church of San Lázaro in Palencia, the Assumption of the Virgin by Michiel Sittow from Toro (Zamora) and María, Queen of Heaven from the Convent of Santa Clara (Medina de Pomar, Burgos).