On one side, the West Building is a splendid example of neoclassical architecture, complete with a rotunda; on the other, the East Building is a cool, modern, geometric structure with glass walls, designed by I.M. Pei. (The styles reflect the type of art contained within.) Together, they display a wealth of significant paintings, statues, and graphic arts from the Middle Ages to the present (over 100,000 works in all), including Rodin sculptures; masterpieces acquired from the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia; three French and Italian period rooms; and a selection of drawings from da Vinci and Picasso contributed by Armand Hammer.

The museum is located on the eastern end of the National Mall (closest to the Capitol). Visit on a weekday morning to avoid the densest crowds.

The two buildings of the National Gallery of Art - the East and West Buildings - sit adjacent to each other and are joined by a spacious tunnel that runs under 4th Street. The two structures are very diverse in style.