National Gallery of Art · Open Data

Search the collection.

Explore only works whose published-image record is explicitly marked open access by the National Gallery of Art. Every result includes eligible imagery and connects back to the museum.

Collection results

63,836 open-access works

63,836 NGA-open-access works
Dataset refreshed September 12, 2026

This print shows a group of people around a large orrery: an intricate mechanical model of the solar system with curving strips of metal creating a dome. Eight people are depicted around the orrery on a table, including four men, three children, and one woman. One man stands in the center, directly behind the orrery, one hand in his pocket. He has white hair and wrinkled skin, and he is looking to the left, towards a man with dark hair who is writing in a notebook. Two children stand between these men, leaning on the orrery and looking into the center, their faces peeking through the metallic rings. On the bottom left, a woman sits looking at the orrery, wearing a long hat and a dark cloak over a dress, with strings of pearls around her neck. On the right, two other men stand by the orrery, partially in shadow. One man looks at the model while the other looks up, towards the standing man in the center. In front of the orrery, the third child is leaning against the model with their back to us, silhouetted against the light that seems to emanate from the orrery. The scene is set in a dimly lit room with a bookcase in the background and draped cloth hanging near the top right corner.

Print2001.96.12

A Philosopher Giving a Lecture on the Orrery

William Pether after Joseph Wright

1768 · mezzotint on laid paper

Open full record

This is a painting of a group of individuals gathered around a table with a scientific instrument. The scene is dramatically lit by a single light source, emphasizing the expressions and features of the subjects as they focus intently on an experiment involving a bird in an air pump. The room is filled with a sense of wonder and curiosity, with various characters displaying different reactions to the demonstration. The background includes a large birdcage and a window, suggesting this event takes place in a domestic setting.

Print2003.76.1

A Philosopher Shewing an Experiment on the Air Pump

Valentine Green after Joseph Wright

1769 · mezzotint on laid paper

Open full record

The image depicts a pencil sketch of an architectural scene from a slightly elevated perspective. The composition features a tall obelisk on the right side, with classical-style buildings in the distance. Fine lines and delicate strokes are used to render details, creating an ethereal quality. The monochrome palette plays with light and shade, emphasizing architectural forms. The largest building is on the right, while the left side opens into a wider space, potentially a plaza.

Drawing1998.105.1.pp.a

A Piazza with an Obelisk

Jacques-Louis David

1775/80 · graphite on laid paper

Open full record

The image depicts a landscape with a low angle view of a valley flanked by steep rocky walls. The horizon is high in the composition, indicating an expansive scene with rugged cliffs and a bridge in the distance. The artwork uses a monochromatic palette of grays and blacks created with watercolor washes, giving a misty quality to the scene. The brushwork is loose and expressive, capturing the texture of the cliffs and foliage.

Drawing1995.52.56

A Picturesque Landscape

William Gilpin

Date not recorded · brush and black ink with gray washes over graphite on light ocher prepared laid paper

Open full record

We look across a body of calm water onto a wooden pier, rowboats, sailboats, and a town on the distant shore, all beneath a cloudy sky that takes up the top three-quarters of this horizontal landscape. The pier extends into the scene from the left edge, and stretches about a quarter of the way across the painting’s width. Three men and a woman, all with light skin, stand in a group near a fourth man, who sits on a piling at the front corner. They all wear charcoal-gray, muted blue, or fawn-brown clothing and hats. A rifle leans against the hip of one man, and another man looks out at the water, his back turned to the rest of the group. Three small boats are tied to the end of the dock. The one closest to us holds large containers, perhaps wrapped with rope. A fifth man bends over the far edge of the boat farthest from us. In another rowboat to our right, a man stands, another sits, and a third pulls on the oars. Four sailboats float into the distance down the center of the composition. To our right, the town along the far shore has closely spaced buildings with peaked roofs, a windmill, and a tall steeple, all painted with tones of peanut brown and tan. Light falls across the water from our left, casting the area closest to us in deep shadow. The surface of water is painted with tones of ivory and gray, matching the sky above. Light filters and streaks through ash-gray clouds across most of the sky. The clouds part to reveal a patch of pale blue at the upper left corner.

Painting2012.73.1

A Pier Overlooking Dordrecht

Aelbert Cuyp

early 1640s · oil on panel

Open full record

Drawing1991.217.47.b

A Pig; Breton Peasant Kneeling [verso]

Paul Gauguin

1884-1888 · crayon and graphite on wove paper

Open full record

The image shows a man standing confidently. He is positioned with one hand on his hip and the other holding a tall, ornate staff. The man has an angular face with a prominent nose and a short beard; his hair is short and curly. He wears an elaborate outfit typical of the late 16th to early 17th century, featuring a ruffled collar, a decorated doublet, and puffed, patterned sleeves, paired with knee-length breeches and stockings. He has a sword attached at his side. There is a detailed shield with a crest hanging from a tree to his right, and the background shows a landscape with trees and distant figures engaged in a battle scene, with smoke and clouds suggesting the chaos of warfare. The bottom part of the image features Latin text.

Print2011.139.15

A Pike-Man Turned to the Left

Hendrik Goltzius

1582 · engraving on laid paper

Open full record

This image portrays a lone horse near us, with its head turned slightly downward and to the right. A man sits on the ground holding the horse's reins. The horizon shows undulating hills that extend into the distance, with faint outlines of mountains. The artwork features detailed etching strokes capturing the horse's mane and the texture of the terrain. The palette is monochromatic in black and gray, emphasizing a somber feel. The sky displays fine lines hinting at a cloudy setting, while the ground has sparse vegetation and rocks.

Print2014.56.5

A Pissing Horse Bound to a Post

Dirck Stoop

1651 · etching on laid paper

Open full record

The image shows a rural scene with figures and animals interacting. A man in rustic attire stands near a horse, facing away. To the left is an architectural structure with people gathered around it. The style features fine engravings and cross-hatched lines. The color palette is monochromatic, creating a classic feel. The image captures ordinary interactions in a rural setting.

Print2014.56.10

A Pissing Horse Held by a Man

Dirck Stoop

1651 · etching

Open full record

The image displays a street scene from a low angle, featuring tall stone buildings lining a narrow alley. Detailed line work with hatching and cross-hatching creates texture on the walls and cobblestone path. The monochromatic color palette focuses on shades of gray to depict depth. Close by, horizontal lines denote a cobblestone path, while distant figures enhance the urban ambiance. The sky is barely visible amidst the tall buildings.

Print2013.24.1

A Pistoia [In Pistoia]

Telemaco Signorini

1872 · etching on chine collé

Open full record

Numerous figures are depicted in a lavish indoor setting. A woman in an intricate gown appears to be dancing, surrounded by other individuals engaged in various activities. The facial features and hairstyles are finely detailed, with ornate hairstyles typical of the period. The clothing is elaborate, featuring dresses, tunics, and capes. Many figures are holding objects, such as musical instruments, goblets, and candles. The background features architectural elements, including statues, pillars, niches, and a large, sculpted figure in an alcove.

Print2013.11.1

A Pleasure House

Jan Sadeler I, after Joos van Winghe

1588 · engraving on laid paper

Open full record

The image shows a drawing of a classical pedestal with a decorative shield or crest at the top. The shield is rich in detail and appears heraldic in design. The pedestal is depicted in a simple architectural style with a rectangular base and elaborate edges. The sketch is done in pencil on light-colored paper, giving it a monochromatic and textured appearance. There is faint handwritten text on the pedestal's center and a red border framing the drawing.

Drawing1992.87.22

A Plinth Surmounted by the Arms of the King of France

Hubert François Gravelot

Date not recorded · graphite, incised for transfer on laid paper; laid down

Open full record

The painting shoes a scene with a horse, captured from a low point of view. The horizon is low, with a broad expanse of gray-blue sky above it and a thin strip of green fields stretching horizontally below it. A horse, painted with broad, expressive brushstrokes, is near the center of the painting, moving across a sandy path towards the left. The horse is white, with a long mane and a short tail, and a dark saddle on its back. In the distance, a small haystack is visible on the left, and there are some swirling, indistinct lines on the right. The brushstrokes in the painting are thick and visible.

Painting1994.59.8

A Plow Horse in a Field

Stanislas Lépine

1870/1874 · oil on canvas

Open full record

The image shows flowing, curved lines and shapes creating an abstract composition. It features a chaotic cluster of human figures resembling cherubs or putti, some of which seem to fly or dance. These figures intersect with handwritten text, blending the appearance of an ink drawing with a handwritten letter. The overall effect is a whimsical, dreamlike scene where the figures appear engaged in playful activities.

Drawing2015.19.3467

A Poem without Words

Henry Mosler

1886 · pen and black ink, wash, and graphite on wove paper

Open full record

Print1999.26.1

A Poet Reading

Master of the Playing Cards

1430s · engraving on laid paper

Open full record

Shown from about the waist up, a light-skinned man with sagging jowls and a double chin wears a fur garment and hat, a large teardrop pearl earring, and gold chains in this vertical painting. In front of a cracked gray stone wall, the man's body is angled to our right but he turns his face to look at us with brown eyes under a furrowed brow. He has a bulbous nose, and his lips are slightly parted under a wide, wispy mustache. His brown hair is mostly hidden under the tall dark brown fur hat, which is wrapped with a gold chain with a gold medallion at the front. The chestnut-brown fur coat looks especially fuzzy along the neckline, which is also encircled with a thick gold chain. A gold, crown-shaped pendant with a black brush hangs over his right shoulder, closer to us. He holds a gold-tipped cane with his right hand, his thumb extended along the cane. The artist signed and dated the work in the upper right corner, "Rembrandt f: 1637."

Painting1937.1.78

A Polish Nobleman

Rembrandt van Rijn

1637 · oil on panel

Open full record

The image depicts a landscape drawing viewed from an uneven, natural terrain perspective. The horizon is indicated by a line of trees and landscape features extending into the distance. The artwork shows intricate brushwork of trees and foliage, using fine, detailed strokes to create texture and depth. The color scheme is monochromatic, with various shades of black against an off-white or cream background. A large twisted tree with sprawling roots is on the left, and more trees and foliage are visible throughout the scene. Some birds are sketched in the sky.

Drawing2015.196.4

A Pollard Willow by a Stream

Hippolyte Lalaisse

c. 1840 · pen and brown ink on cream wove paper

Open full record

This is a photograph of decorative botanical motifs. The image displays three different botanical designs or carvings. In the top and bottom sections, there are stylized spiraling formations with intricate leaf patterns. The central section showcases a cluster of rounded, pod-like forms resembling unopened buds or ornamental seed pods, branching outward. Each element is detailed, emphasizing texture and form.

Print2006.133.34.33

a Polypodiaceae Aspidieae; b Vaccinium corymbosum; c Polystichum falcatum

Karl Blossfeldt

1928 · photogravure

Open full record

This is a photograph of ornate metallic or botanical forms. It shows three separate panels with different wrought iron or intricately detailed organic-like shapes. The top panel has a curled loop. The central panel is adorned with small, bell-shaped flowers on slender stems. The bottom panel features a loop with textured details, resembling a tendril or vine design. All elements exhibit a high level of craftsmanship and detail, reflecting an interplay of strong, yet delicate forms reminiscent of nature.

Print2006.133.34.34

a Polypodium vulgare; b Ribes nigrum; c Pteridium aquilinum

Karl Blossfeldt

1928 · photogravure

Open full record

This painting is of a pomegranate that has been cut in half, exposing its red seeds. Some seeds have spilled out in front of it. The fruit is set upright against a dark brown background, and it casts a dark shadow behind it. The seeds are bright red with white highlights, while the rind of the fruit is a slightly darker red. The area containing the seeds is a light-yellow color with darker indentations in places where seeds have fallen out.

Painting2018.44.8

A Pomegranate, Siena

George Henry Hall

1885 · oil on canvas

Open full record

Print1975.59.18

A Pond

Claes Jansz Visscher after Johannes van Doetechum, the Elder after Lucas van Doetechum after Master of the Small Landscapes

published 1612 · etching

Open full record

The image depicts a person seated with a focus on their upper body, arms, and face. They are in a relaxed position, slightly leaning back with their arms in front. The person has short, dark, straight hair tucked behind the ears. The face is blurred with low contrast, giving an ethereal quality to the portrait. They are wearing a garment with puffy sleeves and a ring on one hand. In the background, there is a textured pattern that may feature leaves and grapes. The overall tone of the image is sepia, creating a vintage feel.

Photograph2025.15.35

A Portrait

George H. Seeley

1910 · photogravure

Open full record

The image displays a drawing featuring a partial view of a figure's face, focusing on the person's head and shoulders turned slightly to the right. The individual has delicate facial features and their hair is styled intricately with curls and a possible bun, adorned with decorative elements. They are wearing clothing with a ruffled collar. Next to this portrait is a drawn figure of a mythical or classical character, shown in a reclining position with an arm raised above the head, draped in flowing fabric. The background is a textured paper aged with hints of wear, showcasing these sketches in red chalk or a similar medium, giving the illustration a classical ambiance. Some text is visible in the top portion but is partially obscured and difficult to read. The bottom right corner of the image has a patch of similar paper, adding an element of restoration or preservation to the artwork.

Drawing2009.70.91

A Portrait of a Queen and a Study of a Woman Seated on a Cloud; verso, Sleeping Figure

Simone Cantarini

Date not recorded · red chalk on laid paper

Open full record

This print shows an elderly woman seated, slightly angled to the left, with her head resting on her hand. Her facial features are soft, and she has beige skin and her hair is gray and pulled back neatly. She is wearing a high-collared black dress and a light-colored shawl over her shoulders. The background is a muted brown with green and yellow floral decorations suggesting bouquets of green and yellow flowers placed on either side of her.

Print1946.21.90

A Portrait of the Artist's Mother

Mary Cassatt

c. 1889-1890 · color softground etching and aquatint on laid paper

Open full record