The National Gallery - The West Building - Chester Dale Collection

With a few hours to spend in DC before Mom's flight today, we headed over to the National Gallery to see the "Impressionism to Modernism" Exhibit.  http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/daleinfo.shtm

Chester Dale by Diego Rivera - 1945       Maud Dale by Fernand Leger - 1935

Running through July 2011, the exhibit features the collected works of Chester and Maud Dale.  The Dales were active collectors of European and American art throughout the early to mid 1900s.   When the National Gallery opened n 1942, the Dales donated a large number of pieces and more of the collection was donated when Chester dale died in 1962.  In all, this couple donated more than 300 pieces to the National Gallery including one of the most complete collections of Modigliani's work in the world.

Gypsy Woman with Baby

Amedeo Modigliani - 1919

As we went through the exhibition, we were struck by how many familiar artists were represented in utterly unfamiliar styles (a hunting portrait of Diana by Renoir, a floral still-life by Derain).  Maud Dale, an artist herself, was reputed to be a free-thinker with respect to the pieces that she chose helping to create the diverse collection represented in the exhibition.  

Favorites upon which Mom and I agreed:

Snow in New York - Robert Henri - 1902   The Loge - Mary Cassatt - 1882

Blue Morning - George Bellow - 1909

(he was a neighbor of the Dales)

The difference of opinion:

Mom liked the strong back of Matisse's "La Coiffure" on top while I was drawn to the colors in his "Odalisque seated with raised arms, Green striped armchair". Mom was thrown the double armpit hair.   The exhibition takes about an hour to see in its entirety and, at the low, low price of free, is worth multiple visits.  This definitely makes my list of favorite museum spots in DC.