Existing comment:
1979: Congress passes legislation authorizing construction of the "South Quadrangle Project' to include new Smithsonian museums for Asian and African art. Ground is officially broken in 1983.
1982: Sackler agrees to donate approximately 1,000 objects, from Sasanian silver to ancient Chinese jades and bronzes, and to help fund a new museum of Asian art.
1984: The Freer Gallery mounts a major retrospective exhibition to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the birth of artist James McNeill Whistler.
1986: The Sackler Gallery acquires the Vever collection of Islamic manuscripts.
1987: The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery opens to the public on September 2, four months after Dr. Sackler's death.
1987-2001: Milo Beach, an expert of Indian art director from 1987 to 2001, develops exhibitions on Japanese woven baskets, court arts in Indonesian and Hindu and Maghal art from India. |