The National Gallery of Art on the National Mall is free, and the paintings on our list are in its West Building. The Phillips Collection near Dupont Circle has Renoir's Luncheon of the Boating Party. The National Gallery also owns Ginevra de' Benci, the only painting by Leonardo da Vinci in the Americas, and major works by Vermeer, Rembrandt and Raphael. Its East Building, connected by an underground walkway, is devoted to modern and contemporary art. Gallery numbers below come from the museum's open data, which it updates as works move. The Smithsonian museums along the Mall, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum a few blocks north, are also free.
National Gallery of Art
On the National Mall, free to visit, with one of the finest collections of European and American painting in the United States.
- Ginevra de' Benci, Leonardo da Vinci, c. 1474 to 1478 West Building, Main Floor, Gallery 6
- Woman Holding a Balance, Johannes Vermeer, c. 1664 West Building, Main Floor, Gallery 50A
- Girl with the Red Hat, Johannes Vermeer, c. 1669 West Building, Main Floor, Gallery 50A
- Watson and the Shark, John Singleton Copley, 1778 West Building, Main Floor, Gallery 60B
- Napoleon in His Study, Jacques-Louis David, 1812 West Building, Main Floor, Gallery 56
- Breezing Up (A Fair Wind), Winslow Homer, 1873 to 1876 West Building, Main Floor, Gallery 68
- Woman with a Parasol, Claude Monet, 1875 West Building, Main Floor, Gallery 85
- The Japanese Footbridge, Claude Monet, 1899 West Building, Main Floor, Gallery 85
The Phillips Collection
America's first museum of modern art, founded by Duncan Phillips in 1921 in his family home near Dupont Circle.
- Luncheon of the Boating Party, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, 1880 to 1881
At a glance
| Painting | Artist | Date | Size | Museum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ginevra de' Benci | Leonardo da Vinci | c. 1474 to 1478 | 38.1 × 37 cm | National Gallery of Art |
| Woman Holding a Balance | Johannes Vermeer | c. 1664 | 39.7 × 35.5 cm | National Gallery of Art |
| Girl with the Red Hat | Johannes Vermeer | c. 1669 | 22.8 × 18 cm | National Gallery of Art |
| Watson and the Shark | John Singleton Copley | 1778 | 182.1 × 229.7 cm | National Gallery of Art |
| Napoleon in His Study | Jacques-Louis David | 1812 | 203.9 × 125.1 cm | National Gallery of Art |
| Breezing Up (A Fair Wind) | Winslow Homer | 1873 to 1876 | 61.5 × 97 cm | National Gallery of Art |
| Woman with a Parasol | Claude Monet | 1875 | 100 × 81 cm | National Gallery of Art |
| The Japanese Footbridge | Claude Monet | 1899 | 81.3 × 101.6 cm | National Gallery of Art |
| Luncheon of the Boating Party | Pierre-Auguste Renoir | 1880 to 1881 | 130.2 × 175.6 cm | The Phillips Collection |
Before you go
Big museums rehang rooms and lend paintings to exhibitions, so a famous work can be away when you visit. Check each museum's website for opening hours, tickets and whether a painting is on view. Gallery numbers above come from the museum's own published data where available.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most famous paintings in Washington, DC?
Ginevra de' Benci, Woman Holding a Balance, Girl with the Red Hat, Watson and the Shark, Napoleon in His Study, Breezing Up (A Fair Wind), Woman with a Parasol, The Japanese Footbridge, Luncheon of the Boating Party.
Which museums in Washington, DC have the most famous paintings?
National Gallery of Art (8 on our list), The Phillips Collection (1 on our list).
Sources: museum collection records and Wikidata, listed on each painting's page. Checked October 17, 2026. How we check.