Introduction The Corcoran Gallery of Art, located in Washington D.C., was one of the earliest public art museums in the United States. Founded in 1869 by philanthropist William Wilson Corcoran, the gallery held an important collection that became concentrated in American Art. In 1890, it started its art school, and its Beaux-Arts style building on The Ellipse was opened in 1897. Due to a prolonged economic shortfall, the Gallery failed in October 2014; pursuant to its founding charter, its art school and building transferred to GWU and the 19,456 works in its collection were distri...
The Corcoran Gallery of Art: A Significant Contribution to American Art
Introduction
The Corcoran Gallery of Art, located in Washington D.C., was one of the earliest public art museums in the United States. Founded in 1869 by philanthropist William Wilson Corcoran, the gallery held an important collection that became concentrated in American Art. In 1890, it started its art school, and its Beaux-Arts style building on The Ellipse was opened in 1897. Due to a prolonged economic shortfall, the Gallery failed in October 2014; pursuant to its founding charter, its art school and building transferred to GWU and the 19,456 works in its collection were distributed to other public museums and institutions in Washington, D.C., primarily the National Gallery of Art.
The Collection
The Corcoran Gallery of Art had an extensive collection of American art, including paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, and photographs. The collection was particularly strong in 19th-century American art, with works by artists such as John Singleton Copley, Thomas Cole, Winslow Homer, and James McNeill Whistler. The gallery also had a significant collection of modern and contemporary art, including works by Georgia O'Keeffe, Edward Hopper, and Jackson Pollock.
The Pop Art Movement, which emerged in the United States and the United Kingdom in the 1950s and 1960s, was also represented in the Corcoran Gallery of Art's collection. The movement was characterized by bold, bright, and colorful images of popular culture, consumerism, and the mass media.
The School
The Corcoran College of Art and Design, which was founded in 1890, was an integral part of the Corcoran Gallery of Art. The school offered a wide range of programs in fine arts, design, and digital media, and its faculty included many prominent artists and designers. The school's graduates have gone on to successful careers in the arts, including as artists, designers, educators, and curators.
The Building
The Corcoran Gallery of Art's building, located on The Ellipse near the White House, was a National Historic Landmark. Designed by architect Ernest Flagg in the Beaux-Arts style, the building was completed in 1897 and was considered one of the finest examples of this style in the United States.
Conclusion
The Corcoran Gallery of Art was a significant contributor to American art, with an extensive collection of American art, a renowned art school, and a beautiful building. Although the gallery is no longer in operation, its legacy lives on through the distribution of its collection to other public museums and institutions in Washington, D.C., and through the work of its graduates and faculty members.
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