Bruce, Ailsa Mellon, 1901-1969

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role

Collector Patron

dates

1901-1969

city

Washington

state

DC

sex

F

historical notes

Collector and daughter of Andrew Mellon, she acted as her father's hostess in Washington and when he was ambassador to Great Britain.

In 1926 she married David K. E. Bruce, who became a distinguished diplomat and also served as the National Gallery's president (1939-1945). Ailsa and David divorced in 1945.

Mrs. Mellon Bruce established the Avalon Foundation in 1940, which, among other things, funded the Gallery's Andrew W. Mellon Lectures in the Fine Arts.

In 1946 she designated funds for the Gallery's purchase of American art and later made possible the acquisition of many Old Masters, such as Ginevra de' Benci, the only painting by Leonardo da Vinci that is outside Europe. Along with her brother Paul, she contributed the large initial gift to finance the new East Building, but she did not live to see its groundbreaking.

Mrs. Mellon Bruce's bequest to the Gallery included an endowment fund and her own collection of paintings by French impressionists.

decades
of activity

1920-1930
1930-1940
1940-1950
1950-1960
1960-1970

updated

10/31/2024 13:33:17

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Archives/Repository	Collection Title	Collection Details
National Gallery of Art, Gallery Archives 2000B South Club Drive	Ailsa Mellon Bruce Papers	see details...
National Gallery of Art, Gallery Archives 2000B South Club Drive	David E. (David Edward) Finley Papers, 1915-1977	see details...
National Gallery of Art, Library 2000B South Club Drive	Ailsa Mellon Bruce : vertical files.	see details...