National Gallery

Re "J.C. Brown, 67; Led National Gallery of Art," obituary, June 19: I found it sadly ironic that the death of J. Carter Brown, former director of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, coincides with the demise of the grand vista between the Lincoln and Washington monuments. In spite of his excellent record as director of our National Gallery, the Brown-led U.S. Fine Arts Commission seemed incapable of defending the National Mall against the rudely placed World War II Memorial.

The Postal Service issued its 1986 traditional Christmas stamp--depicting a madonna and child--in a ceremony Friday at the National Gallery of Art.

The late British supermarket tycoon Simon Sainsbury left 18 paintings worth as much as $200 million to Tate Britain and the National Gallery in a bequest that the two galleries described as the most significant in memory. The paintings, including works by Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Thomas Gainsborough and Francis Bacon, came from Sainsbury's private collection. He died last year at age 76. The Tate will receive 13 works and the National Gallery will receive five paintings.

President Bush paid tribute Thursday night to the late Andrew Mellon, the philanthropist and one-time Treasury secretary who founded the National Gallery of Art. Bush, just back from a four-day, cross-country trip, attended the black-tie dinner at the National Gallery with his wife, Barbara. Bush said Mellon created a tradition that reaffirms the nation's "decency and kindness." The President also praised Mellon's son Paul, whose family remains intimately involved in donating art and raising funds for the gallery.

"Bravo for L.A. It's a stellar group with a breathtaking level of achievement by each artist. . . . MOCA and the L.A. basin are very, very lucky to receive them." --Jack Cowart, curator of 20th Century Art at the National Gallery of Art, on the Museum of Contemporary Art's receipt of at least $60 million worth of donated art works.