National Gallery of Art Washington: 8 Must-See Masterpieces

The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. houses a world-class collection spanning centuries. Among its highlights are Leonardo da Vinci's 'Ginevra de' Benci' (1474), the only Leonardo painting in North America, purchased in 1967 for $5 million. Raphael's 'Alba Madonna' (1510) came from Catherine the Great's collection via Andrew W. Mellon, a founding donor. 'The Feast of the Gods' (1514) by Giovanni Bellini and Titian is the first large mythological scene for a private collection. Vermeer's 'Woman Holding a Balance' (1664) depicts a woman weighing objects, its meaning ambiguous. Copley's 'Watson and the Shark' (1778) recounts a 1749 shark attack in Havana Harbor; the survivor later became Lord Mayor of London. Mary Cassatt's 'Little Girl in a Blue Armchair' (1878), with background help from Edgar Degas, captures childhood restlessness. Monet's 'Woman with a Parasol' (1875) was painted outdoors in a single afternoon near Argenteuil. Jan van Eyck's 'The Annunciation' (1434-36) uses groundbreaking oil paint and intricate symbolism, foundational to the Northern Renaissance.