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The Frick Collection is a major museum of European paintings from the 14th to 19th centuries. It includes such masters as Rembrandt, Boucher, Fragonard, Hals, Vermeer, Van Dyck, El Greco, Renoir, Velazquez, Gainsborough, Goya, Holbein, Veronese, Titian, Turner, Constable, and Corot. Only two American painters are represented in the collection: Gilbert Stuart, and James McNeil Whistler. While not a product of an American painter, there is also a portrait of General Burgoyne (the British general who surrendered at the Battle of Saratoga) by Joshua Reynolds. The museum also includes furniture and sculpture. It is true that such an art collection by itself would not be very helpful in researching topics from American history. However, the house and the collection offer a unique perspective into the life of Henry Clay Frick, a man who made his money in Pittsburgh coke and steel, and who chose to spend the end of his life in Gilded Age New York City. Henry Clay Frick was born in 1849 in West Overton. Although he did not himself live on a farm, this rural community was far from the life of the big city. Denied a substantial inheritance, he set out to build his future in the coal industry. He supplied |
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| coke (a refined coal product) to Pittsburgh’s
burgeoning steel industry and was so successful that he became a millionaire
by age thirty. At this point, Frick had the funds to begin collecting
art, a medium in which he had long been interested. He traveled to
Europe with his close friend Andrew Mellon, and he purchased a great
deal of art. Not a typical collector of his time, he bought what he
liked, regardless of current fashion. Almost exclusively portraiture
and landscapes, the paintings in his collection and how they are displayed
reflect his life and the time in which he lived.
When you come to the Frick, be sure to look not only at the paintings but also at the entire house. Carrère and Hastings, the architectural firm that designed the New York Public Library, designed Frick’s house as well. The interior was constructed specifically to accommodate the collection. Each room is arranged to allow for the best viewing of the paintings and sculpture. Unlike a typical museum, you have the privilege of moving around the rooms essentially unrestricted. The house has been expanded since its construction, and with the exception of the Living Hall, which has remained the same since Frick’s death, some paintings have been added and some furniture has been moved around, but all has been done in keeping with the tenor of the residence. When you visit the Frick, you should definitely pick up an “acoustiguide” recording, which is free with admission. If you are lucky enough to in at least about your 18th year of school or more or whatever year of school you're in by the time you are a graduate student, be sure to check out the Frick Library. (High school and college students, unfortunately, cannot use this resource.) Built by his daughter after his death, this nearby thirteen-story structure houses one of the best art research libraries in the world. Although it concentrates primarily on European art, you should be aware of this valuable resource. While you do not need an official appointment, you should still call in advance to make sure that the library is able to accommodate you. Regardless of your level of study, if you have any questions about the collection, contact Amy Herman, Director of Education, at (212) 547-6856, or go online and e-mail the collection. |