One of my favorite museums in DC is the National Portrait Gallery. In 2000, the building underwent a major 6 year long renovation which included enclosing the courtyard, done by the starchitect Norman Foster.
While I think this contemporary roof blends harmoniously with the classical building, formerly the National Patent Office, it's the restoration of the amazing Greek Revival building that really fascinates me.
The building encompasses an entire city block so you can imagine the number of staircases required to provide access to all 3 floors.
Each is different and the details astound me, every one.
The stone scalloped treads of this curved stair elegantly cantilever out of the wall.
While the stringer of this stair is amazingly shallow. Aren't the shadows beautiful?
The first floor is almost treated as a basement in Piano Nobile style. This stair with heavy granite treads reminds me of a servant's stair from Downton Abbey.
The top floor has this mezzanine and is a light filled atrium thank to the skylight, perfect for the more modern and celebrity portraiture.
Check out these colorful Victorian tile floors!
The art is as beautiful as the building, naturally, and there is always an interesting exhibit to check out. This bronze sculpture of the Spirit of Life, 1914, by Daniel Chester French, lies at the top of one of the many stairscases.
A portrait of the beautiful Elizabeth Winthrop Chanler, 1893, by John Singer Sargent, is one of my many favorite portraits.
The collection houses a number of works from the aesthetic period (my favorite) such as this painting of a Woman with red hair, 1894, by Albert Herter. So if you're in DC checking out our Cherry Blossom Festival and beautiful spring weather, don't forget to stop into the National Portrait Gallery!The National Portrait Gallery is located at 8th Street NW & F Street NW atop the Gallery Place/Chinatown metro stop.
I used to work at the Smithsonian, and would love visiting this gem. One of our best museums!
ReplyDeleteYour 3rd & 4th photos prove it's possible to bring historic railings up to code without screwing up their looks in the process. All it takes is talent. Too often, even if an original railing is preserved its good looks are not. This was a handsome solution to a comon challenge.
ReplyDeleteThe railing in the 3rd and 4th photographs is gorgeous - it reminds me of the work of one of my heroes, Karl Friedrich Schinkel. It's so great that buildings like this are restored and given new purpose.
ReplyDeleteI adore the National Portrait Gallery, and am sure to make a pilgrimage there (and to JRP's sublime National Gallery) whenever I am fortunate enough to spend a weekend in the Nation's Capitol. Thanks for these marvelous photos (and of Seaside, too!). RD
ReplyDeleteWhile I am reserving judgment on that glass roof, the building itself is magnificent, and I am also with you on that Chanler portrait.
ReplyDelete--Road to Parnassus
I just adored that gallery when we visited in October. It is in my top galleries list for sure. I loved it.
ReplyDeleteHere is my post about it:
http://windlost.blogspot.ca/2011/10/national-portrait-gallery-american-art.html
Thanks for the lovely reminder. So envious you get to LIVE there. I would be in galleries every weekend.
xo Terri
I am completely fascinated with the gorgeous stairway railings...stunningly beautiful. I have not been to the museum since the renovation, but it's a must after seeing these images!!
ReplyDeleteDesignchic -you must visit!
ReplyDeleteParnassus -the roof is similar to other courtyards Foster had enclosed -I think it's succesful.
Mark -I hadn't thought of it but it is similar to Schinkel's work!
Wonderful post! Can't wait to see this building again!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! I haven't been there in a long time but I would go back for the building as much as the works therein contained. Those the first stairs with the scalloped cantilever, amazing design. Love the term starchitect!
ReplyDeleteI would love to visit here one day. Thanks for the tour.
ReplyDeleteThis makes me want to come back to DC just to visit this museum. Such a a beautiful building!
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