The Smithsonian Museum of American Art and National Portrait
Gallery are located a few blocks from the National Mall in Washington’s
downtown area . The two collections are housed in the old Patent Office
Building, a historic Greek revival building in a large square shape around a
now glass-covered central courtyard.

The relationship between the two collections of related art
is a little confusing. Why are they separate? I’m not entirely clear on that.
The American Art Museum is supposed to have one of the largest collections of
American art in the world, although it seems like only some of the highlights
are on permanent display with much of the museum’s space devoted to changing
exhibitions. I was honestly at least as impressed with the works by American
artists on display in the National Gallery of Art as I was with those in the
American Art Museum and think there are at least as many well-known and top
quality works by American artists on display in the Metropolitan Museum in New
York and Fine Arts Museum in Boston.

Portraits are not usually my favorite genre unless the
portrait displays great mastery of technique. Every portrait in the National
Portrait Gallery, though, is accompanied by a detailed explanation of the
sitter’s importance in American history, so if you take the time to read it’s
like a lesson in American history, one in which you can place a face with the
story.