WASHINGTON DC, United States — The interior courtyard of the Freer Gallery of Art, part of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Asian Art, located on the National Mall. This tranquil space, surrounded by the gallery's Italianate architecture, provides a serene setting within the museum known for its extensive collections of Asian and American art.
Photograph by David Coleman. The Freer Gallery of Art, opened to the public in 1923, is an art museum of the Smithsonian Institution specializing in Asian art. Located on the south side of the National Mall in Washington, , it was the first Smithsonian museum devoted solely to art. The gallery is named after its founder, Charles Lang Freer, a Detroit industrialist who donated his substantial art collection to the United States. The building, designed by architect Charles A. Platt, is an elegant example of Italianate architecture. Its interior courtyard is a defining feature, providing visitors with a peaceful retreat and a glimpse of the building's classical design. The courtyard typically features plantings and sometimes sculptures, creating a harmonious blend of nature and architecture within the museum setting. The Freer Gallery houses over 26,000 objects spanning 6,000 years of history, including major collections of Chinese, Japanese, Korean, South Asian, and Islamic art. Notably, it also contains a significant collection of American art, focusing on works by James McNeill Whistler. The famous Peacock Room, originally designed by Whistler for a London mansion, is one of the gallery's highlights. In 1987, the adjacent Arthur M. Sackler Gallery opened, and together with the Freer, it forms the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art. While the Sackler Gallery hosts changing exhibitions, the Freer's collections are on permanent display, adhering to Charles Freer's stipulation that the collection never be lent or exhibited elsewhere. The Freer Gallery of Art, with its tranquil courtyard and world-class collections, offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience Asian and American art in a serene, contemplative setting on the National Mall.
Size: 6868px × 4584px
Location: Freer Gallery of Art, Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America
Photo credit: © David Coleman | Have Camera Will Travel / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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