Dr William H. Holmes worked for the Smithsonian for more than fifty years, as an artist, geologist, anthropologist, and curator. His career began when he visited the Smithsonian and sketched a brightly colored bird that was on display. The scientist Professor Henry W. Elliott noticed his talent and employed him as a draftsman. Holmes traveled on numerous exhibitions, which included documenting the topography of the western territories and exploring ancient ruins in Yucatan and Central America. In 1920 he became director of the Smithsonian’s National Gallery of Art, now the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
![The Surgeon [reverse copy], Netherlandish 16th Century, after Lucas van Leyden](https://api.nga.gov/iiif/6dbf4146-9124-4b49-afeb-1396984ad6ee/full/!2400,2400/0/default.jpg)
