Visit the National Gallery: West Building Tour
See some highlights from the National Gallery's incredible collection!
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An emperor, a ballet dancer – and more! Discover notable people exploring the many stories revealed in art from the National Gallery’s rich collections.
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1. The Sculpture Gallery
We begin our tour on the ground floor, in the Sculpture Gallery.
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This room is home to works by several well-known 19th-century European artists, including Auguste Rodin and Edgar Degas.
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Straight ahead is Degas' Little Dancer Aged Fourteen (1878-1881), one of the artist's most famous works.
Little Dancer Aged Fourteen (1878-1881) by Edgar DegasNational Gallery of Art, Washington DC
Degas made the Little Dancer out of wax and dressed her in a real tutu and cotton bodice. He even used real human hair on her head!
This sculpture was not well-received at the time of its creation, as many critics felt that the dancer was ugly. Today, however, it is an iconic work of art, beloved by children and adults alike.
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2. French Neoclassical Painting
Just upstairs are the galleries containing 18th- and 19th- century French paintings and sculptures.
Portrait of a Young Woman in White (c. 1798) by Circle of Jacques-Louis DavidNational Gallery of Art, Washington DC
Visit these galleries to see paintings by Jacques-Louis David and Elisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun. We are not sure who created Portrait of a Young Woman in White, but David may have painted it.
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In Gallery 56, we also see The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries (1812) by Jacques-Louis David.
The Emperor Napoleon in His Study at the Tuileries (1812) by Jacques-Louis DavidNational Gallery of Art, Washington DC
This telling portrait shows Emperor Napoleon hard at work in his study. The clock behind him, in conjunction with his tired, slightly disheveled appearance, let us know that it is 4:13 in the morning!
Napoleon has been busy running his country, and has no time for sleep!
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3. American Paintings and Sculptures
Gallery 71 contains paintings of women doing a range of activities.
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Some women are painting, others are reading, and this one is sitting for a portrait with her cat.
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Here, we catch an arresting glimpse of an elderly woman. Who is she?
Portrait of My Grandmother (1922) by Archibald John Motley Jr.National Gallery of Art, Washington DC
This woman is Emily Sims Motley, sitting for a portrait painted by her grandson, Archibald John Motley Jr., in 1922.
Archibald Motley lived with his grandma, and carried her up the stairs to her bedroom at the end of each day. We can see his devotion to her on display in this dignified portrait.
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4. European Portraiture
Across the rotunda are the European portraiture galleries. There are many incredible works to discover in these rooms!
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Check out Portrait of a Youth by Sandro Botticelli, one of the masters of the Italian Renaissance.
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A highlight in this room is Leonardo da Vinci's Ginevra de' Benci (c. 1474/1478). Da Vinci painted both the front and back of this work, so make sure to use the arrows to navigate around and view the other side!
Ginevra de' Benci [obverse] (c. 1474/1478) by Leonardo da VinciNational Gallery of Art, Washington DC
This is the only painting by Leonardo da Vinci in the Americas. Do not miss it on your next in-person visit to the National Gallery!
Gallery view of “Ginevra de’ Benci” (c. 1474/1478) by Leonardo da Vinci at the National Gallery of Art, WashingtonNational Gallery of Art, Washington DC
Thank you for coming on this tour with us! Make sure to check out the other guided tours and museum views to see more of the National Gallery's incredible collection.
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