CultureGrrl

Lee Rosenbaum's cultural commentary

“Capital Overhaul”: My WSJ Review of National Gallery’s Reinvented East & Strengthened West

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If you’ve been wondering why I’ve been AWOL from the blog, here’s the answer: A Capital Overhaul at the National Gallery, my review in tomorrow’s Wall Street Journal (online now). The reinstallations of the permanent collection—comprehensive in the renovated, expanded East Building (modern and contemporary art), far-reaching in the West Building (historic collections)—amount to a reinvention and revitalization of the institution.

Here’s the cast of curators who reshuffled the deck with provocative pairings and strengthened representation of key artists, aided by the influx of some 8,766 works (219 now on display), acquired from the venerable (now defunct) Corcoran Gallery of Art.

I’ll have more on this later. For now, here’s the cast of characters who helped make it happen.

All photos by Lee Rosenbaum

Harry Cooper, curator & head of department of modern art, addressing the press Photo by Lee Rosenbaum
Harry Cooper, curator & head of department of modern art, addressing the press
Nancy Anderson, curator and head of department of American and British paintings, with TK
Nancy Anderson, curator and head of department of American and British paintings, with Gari Melchers’ “Penelope,” 1910, ex-Corcoran
Mary Morton, with Cézanne's "Boy in a Red Waistcoat," 1888-90
Mary Morton, curator and head of department of French paintings, with Cézanne’s “Boy in a Red Waistcoat,” 1888-90
Arthur Wheelock Jr., curator of Northern Baroque painting, with Gerrit van Honthorst's "The Concert," 1623
Arthur Wheelock Jr., curator of Northern Baroque painting, with Gerrit van Honthorst’s “The Concert,” 1623
C.D. Dickerson III, curator and head of department of sculpture and decorative arts, with Hiram Power's "The Greek Slave," modeled 1841-43, carved 1846, ex-Corcoran
C.D. Dickerson III, curator and head of department of sculpture and decorative arts, with Hiram Power’s “The Greek Slave,” modeled 1841-43, carved 1846, ex-Corcoran
Perry Chin, architect for East Building renovation and expansion, in the Rothko room
Perry Chin, architect for East Building renovation and expansion, in the Rothko gallery

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