USA: SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE ANNOUNCE 20 MILLION DOLLAR DONATION TO PURCHASE "LANDSDOWN" PORTRAIT OF GEORGE WASHINGTON.
Record ID:
648446
USA: SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE ANNOUNCE 20 MILLION DOLLAR DONATION TO PURCHASE "LANDSDOWN" PORTRAIT OF GEORGE WASHINGTON.
- Title: USA: SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE ANNOUNCE 20 MILLION DOLLAR DONATION TO PURCHASE "LANDSDOWN" PORTRAIT OF GEORGE WASHINGTON.
- Date: 14th March 2001
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (MARCH 13, 2001) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. GV/CU: GEORGE WASHINGTON PAINTING (2 SHOTS) 0.12 2. GV: AUDIENCE MEMBERS AT NEWS CONFERENCE 0.18 3. MCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) LAWRENCE SMALL, SECRETARY, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION: "We're thrilled to announce, that - thanks to the generosity of the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation - George Washington still has a home at the Smithsonian Institution. We have, at the eleventh hour, averted a public auction and Gilbert Stuart's famous "Landsdowne" portrait of our first president, painted in 1796, will remain with us. The father of our country will stay in this country forever." 0.44 4. GV/TILT/CU/PAN: VARIOUS OF GEORGE WASHINGTON (3 SHOTS) 1.05 5. CU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) MARC PACHTER, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY: "I took the rainbow, notice the rainbow up there behind Washington in the portrait, as an omen for success for our new nation. I just didn't know where the rainbow would lead. Now, we know it led to the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation." 1.23 6. MV/CU: VARIOUS GEORGE WASHINGTON/ SIGN ANNOUNCING BENEFACTOR OF GIFT (3 SHOTS) 1.38 7. CU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) STEVE ANDERSON, DONALD W. REYNOLDS FOUNDATION: "I also believe that this grant is a true win-win situation. It's a win for the Foundation, it's a win for the Smithsonian, and, ultimately, it's a win for the American people." 1.47 8. GV/CU: GEORGE WASHINGTON PORTRAIT/ LABEL ON BOTTOM OF GEORGE WASHINGTON PRINT (3 SHOTS) 2.04 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 29th March 2001 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: WASHINGTON, DC, UNITED STATES
- City:
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVAUU3VAF76S49NK3DA85LT3JO3
- Story Text: Representatives of the Smithsonian Institution
announced a donation of more than $20 million (U.S.) to
purchase the original "Lansdowne" portrait of George
Washington by Gilbert Stuart.
The portrait had been purchased by the family of Lord
Harry Dalmeny of London in 1880. It has been on loan to the
Smithsonian Institution since 1968. Lord Dalmeny told the
Institution of his intentions to sell the portrait last year.
While he wanted the portrait to remain with the Institution,
he required $20 million (U.S.) by April 1, 2001.
Fearing they might not make the deadline, the Institution
set forth a campaign to get enough money to purchase the
portrait. That fear was relieved when a donor came to the
rescue. "We're thrilled to announce that, thanks to the
generosity of the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, George
Washington still has a home at the Smithsonian Institution.
We have, at the eleventh hour, averted a public auction and
Gilbert Stuart's famous "Lansdowne" portrait of our first
president, painted in 1796, will remain with us. The Father
of our country will stay in this country forever," said Larry
Small, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.
Marc Pacther, Director of the National Portrait Gallery
worked feverishly to avoid sending the portrait up for public
auction. And, while he admits there were times he worried, he
says he had faith the American public would come through. "I
took the rainbow, notice the rainbow up there, behind
Washington in the portrait, as an omen for success for our new
nation. I just didn't know where the rainbow would lead. Now
we know it lead to the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation," said
Pacther.
The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation is a national
philanthropic organisation founded in 1954 by the late media
entrepreneur for whom it is named. Steve Anderson said the
Foundation felt losing the original portrait of our Founding
Father would be a tragedy. Anderson told a group of media
representatives after the announcement, "I also believe that
this grant is a true win-win situation. It's a win for the
Foundation, it's a win for the Smithsonian, and ultimately,
ti's a win for the American people." In addition to the
donation of $20 million (U.S.), the Foundation will also
donate $4 million (U.S.) for a new exhibit space and up to $6
million (U.S.) will support a national tour and education
programmes.
The 8-foot-by-5-foot portrait shows Washington in a black
suit, with an oratorical gesture of an outstretched hand.
Only three such paintings by Stuart are known to exist and
this is the original, painted from life in 1796.
The commonly used name - the "Lansdowne" painting - comes
from the name of the person for whom it was painted, the
Marquis of Lansdowne.
The portrait will remain in the museum until details of a
national and educational tour are made available. It's final
resting place will be in the National Portrait Gallery, which
is currently under renovation. Renovations are expected to be
completed by 2004.
(dw/lh)
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