National Gallery of ArtThe National Gallery of Art was created in 1937 for the people of the United States of America by a joint resolution of Congress, accepting the gift of financier and art collector Andrew W. Mellon. During the 1920s, Mr. Mellon began collecting with the intention of forming a gallery of art for the nation in Washington. In 1937, the year of his death, he promised his collection to the United States. Funds for the construction of the West Building were provided by The A. W. Mellon Educational and.Empire of the Eye: The Magic of Illusion-Introduction, Part 1 of 7- June 3, 2008 The Magic of Illusionpresented here in a seven-part podcast seriesis a film about how we see, what we see, or what it is we think we see. Al Roker guides us on a journey into the secrets of illusion, utilizing special effects to illustrate the artistic and visionary discoveries of the Renaissance. While Copernicus and Columbus were changing our understanding of the world, the Renaissance masters were dramatically changing the way we see that world. The film uses recent technology to look at old.http://luxmedia.vo.llnwd.net/o10/clients/nationalgallery/illusion/01_introduction.m4v Empire of the Eye: The Magic of Illusion-The TrinityMasaccio, Part 2 of 7- June 3, 2008 In 1427 inside Santa Maria Novella, Florence, Masaccio created the masterpiece The Trinity using linear perspective for the first time. This segment explains how he was able to make the wall behind the work seem to disappear so that the painting becomes an extension of the room the viewer is in.http://luxmedia.vo.llnwd.net/o10/clients/nationalgallery/illusion/02_trinity.m4v |