Chester Dale's magnificent bequest to the National Gallery of Art in 1962 included a generous endowment as well as one of America's most important collections of French painting from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This special exhibition, the first in 45 years to explore the extraordinary legacy left to the nation by this passionate collector, features some 83 of his finest French and American paintings.
Among the masterpieces on view are Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot'sForest of Fontainebleau (1834), Auguste Renoir's A Girl with a Watering Can (1876), Mary Cassatt's Boating Party (1893/1894), Edouard Manet's Old Musician (1862), Pablo Picasso's Family of Saltimbanques(1905), and George Bellows' Blue Morning (1909). Other artists represented include Paul Cézanne, Edgar Degas, Vincent van Gogh, Henri Matisse, Amedeo Modigliani, and Claude Monet.
Dale was an astute businessman who made his fortune on Wall Street in the bond market. He thrived on forging deals and translated much of this energy and talent into his art collecting. He served on the board of the National Gallery of Art from 1943 and as president from 1955 until his death in 1962. Portraits of Dale by Salvador Dalí and Diego Rivera are included in the show, along with portraits of Dale's wife Maud (who greatly influenced his interest in art) painted by George Bellows and Fernand Léger.
Edgar Degas (1834 - 1917) was a French painter. He is known as a founding father of impressionism but preferred to be known as a realist.
Claude Monet, 1840 - 1926 was a leading French Impressionist painter.
Edouard Manet, 1832 - 1883, was a leading 19th century French painter.
Camille Corot, 1796 - 1875, was a leading 19th century French painter.
Henri Matisse, 1869 - 1954 was a leading 20th century artist and member of the Fauves.
Vincent Van Gogh, 1853 - 1890, was a leading post - impressionist artist.
Paul Cezanne, 1839 - 1906 was a well known French painter who took part in the First Impressionist Exhibition of 1874.
Amedeo Modigliani 1884 - 1920, was a legendary Italian artist who displayed a wide range of influences including Cubism and the Fauves.
Salvador Dali 1904 - 1989 was a Spanish Artist known as much for his Surrealist art as his extravagant behaviour.
Pierre Auguste Renoir (1841 - 1919) was a French painter who was a leading member of the Impressionists.
Pablo Picasso (25 October 1881 - 8 April 1973) was a Spanish painter, draughtsman, and sculptor.
Fernand Leger, 1881 - 1955 was a member of the Cubist circle of artists in Paris.
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