Small French Paintings

On our visits to the East Wing of the National Gallery, John and I have always been charmed by a gallery called Small French Paintings -- such an evocative and promising name! Alisa Mellon Bruce  originally bought this collection of 19th century paintings to fill her New York City apartment.

This delightful collection demonstrates her unerring good taste. Consider this trio of self portraits. From left to right, Edgar Degas' Self-Portrait with White Collar, c.1857, Henri Fantin-Latour's Self-Portrait, 1861 and, finally, Edouard Vuillard's Self-Portrait, aged 21, 1889.

Or imagine living with this charming Courbet Calm Sea.

John is looking at Jacques Joseph Tissot's Hide and Seek, 1877 and to his left, Fantin-Latour's Roses de Nice on a Table, 1882. This wonderful little gallery is situated on the ground floor of the National's East Wing. Try not to miss it!