Brown, J Carter

▪ 2003

      American museum director (b. Oct. 8, 1934, Providence, R.I.—d. June 17, 2002, Boston, Mass.), transformed the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., into one of the world's major museums. He was credited with creating so-called blockbuster exhibitions, multimedia events that drew hundreds of thousands of visitors. Brown was a descendent of Roger Williams, founder of Rhode Island, and of Nicholas Brown, who endowed Brown University. He earned an A.B. degree from Harvard University in 1956 and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School in 1958. After study in Europe he enrolled in the Institute of Fine Arts at New York University, where he received an M.A. degree in 1962. He took a position at the National Gallery of Art in 1961 and from 1969 to 1992 was its director. Brown was skillful in raising money from both public and private sources, and under his leadership the museum vastly broadened its holdings—acquiring more than 20,000 works—and expanded its activities. In 1978 the addition known as the East Building, designed by I.M. Pei, was opened. Among the museum's blockbuster exhibitions were “The Treasures of Tutankhamen” (1976–77), “The Treasure Houses of Britain” (1985–86), and “Circa 1492: Art in the Age of Exploration” (1991–92). As chair of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts from 1971 to 2002, Brown influenced the design and placement of a number of structures in Washington's Mall, including the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. He advised first lady Jacqueline Kennedy on the refurnishing of the White House. One of his most important achievements was persuading Congress to indemnify artworks on loan from other countries, which thus made it possible for American museums to afford international exhibitions. He helped create the cable arts network Ovation. Brown was an honorary CBE and a member of the French Legion of Honour.

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