Microsoft Ltd has unveiled the new Microsoft Art Gallery: The Collection of The National Gallery, London, which should be available late this autumn for viewing on Windows-based personal computers and Apple Macintosh. It is an interactive guide based on the National’s existing in-house computer system, the Micro Gallery, and will provide visual access to the entire collection of more than 2,000 paintings permanently housed at the National Gallery, including works by da Vinci, Michaelangelo, Holbein, Rembrandt and Van Gogh. The pictures have been carefully digitised in 256 colours from the National’s photographic records. The program consists of more than 5,000 pages of information, 700 artist biographies and 500 glossary term explanations. It provides information about artists’ lives, categories of picture types such as portraits or still life, historical background of the period and a general reference index, which can all be accessed via four main category headings. Gillian Kent, product manager of the consumer business unit at Microsoft, sees the software as a serious research tool for home users, art enthusiasts and academics of all ages. Neil MacGregor, director of The National, is pleased to build on the success of the Micro Gallery opened in 1991 so that people worldwide can have access in their own homes to the system. This will enhance their enjoyment and appreciation of great paintings, he says. This product adds to Microsoft’s existing line of multimedia CD-ROM software, which includes Multimedia Mozart: The Dissonant Quartet, and Multimedia Stravinsky: The Rite of Spring. As well as bringing Mozart’s String Quartet in C Major, K465 The Dissonant and Stravinsky’s The Rite of Springand Multimedia Musical Instruments (French Language Version), offering an audio and visual insight into the history of over 200 instruments from around the world. The Microsoft Art Gallery will sell for about $80 and Multimedia Mozart and Multimedia Stravinsky are available now also for $80. No further information was available as to whether the National Gallery has sold Microsoft permanent computer rights to its entire collection or has simply licensed them for a fixed period.
