In 1973 Prime Minister Gough Whitlam unveiled a plaque to mark the beginning of construction of the Australian National Gallery and Jackson Pollock’s ‘Blue poles’ was purchased for the nation at a cost of $1,130,500. How did the Gallery project come into being and how are decisions made to buy works of art? What is the nature and extent of the National Art Collection? These questions and others like them are answered in this publication, planned to mark the opening of the gallery by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on 12 October 1982. In a comprehensive survey of 13 chapters, all lavishly illustrated, the authors outline the history of the Gallery project from Federation in 1901, the siting and design of the building on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, the nature of the Gallery’s collections and the patterns of coherence it is attempting to establish. Around a core of Australian art, are collections reflecting Australia’s geographical and cultural heritage, and acknowledging her receptiveness to European and American influences. Represented are the arts of Asia, of Oceania, Black Africa and Pre-Columbian America, European art before 1850, and art of the modern period. The latter is perhaps the richest aspect of the Gallery’s collections and is intended to reflect either significant movements in art or the work of great masters who have helped shape the visual dynamics of our time.

Contents: An historical note / Margaret Steven.- The siting and design of the building / Roger Johnson.- A preliminary note on the national collection / Valda Leehy.- European art before 1850 / Sasha Grishin.- The modern period / Patrick McCaughey.- Prints and illustrated books from 1800 / Tony Palmer.- Drawings from 1800 / Michael Lloyd.- Contemporary international art / Michael Wardell.- Photography / Ian North.- The arts of Asia and Southeast Asia / Piriya Krairiksh.- Oceanic, Black African and Pre-Columbian American art / Douglas Newton.- Aboriginal art / Ruth McNicoll.- Australian art / Daniel Thomas.