NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART

a US museum of art owned by the nation and supported by the government. It is part of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, and was established in 1937, when Andrew Mellon died and left his collection of art to the nation. The West Building opened in 1941 and contains works by such great artists as Raphael, Reubens, Rembrandt and El Greco. The East Building for 20th-century art was opened in 1978.