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The Frick Collection
Title: Officer and Laughing Girl, painted probably 1655-60
Artist: Johannes Vermeer (Dutch 1632-1675)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 19 7/8 x 18 1/8 inches
Photo: Richard di Liberto
© The Frick Collection, New York
Image Courtesy: The Frick Collection, New York
American industrialist Henry Clay Frick bequeathed his New York residence and the most outstanding of his numerous art works
to establish a public gallery that was created to “encouraging and developing the study of the fine arts.” In 1913 construction began
on Clay's New York mansion, located on Seventieth Street and Fifth Avenue. Generously the businessman had the firm engaged to complete
the project, Carrère and Hastings, accommodate his art collection in their designs, as well as his future desire to leave the house and much of his collection, for the public to enjoy after his death.
Title: The Frick Collection Exterior: Fifth Avenue Garden and Facade (looking toward 70th St.)
Photographer: Galen Lee
© The Frick Collection, New York
Image Courtesy: The Frick Collection, New York
Using a beehive oven to turn coal into coke, desired by the steel manufacturers, Henry Clay Frick became a millionaire
and a Pittsburgh coke and steel magnate. He was partnered with Andrew Carnegie but they fell out over treatment of workers. Frick was anti-union and the violent response he allowed to put down the Homestead Steel Strike of 1892 led to the deaths of 10 steelworkers by Frick-hired Pinkerton agents. It is an unfortunate legacy that does not deride his generous gifts. During his lifetime he endowed
several hospitals. His will stipulated that Mrs. Frick should enjoy occupancy of
the New York mansion during her lifetime and that the gallery using the
residence be known as The Frick Collection. He
left funds so the Collection could be increased and over the years several purchases have been made.
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Title: Comtesse d'Haussonville, dated 1845
Artist: Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (French 1780-1867)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 51 7/8 x 36 1/4 inches
© The Frick Collection, New York
Photo: Richard di Liberto
© The Frick Collection, New York
Image Courtesy: The Frick Collection, New York
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One hundred thirty-one paintings, sculpture, drawings, prints and decorative arts including furniture, porcelains, enamels, rugs and
silver formed the Frick Collection.
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Eras range from Old Masters, English portraiture of the 18th Century,
17th Century Dutch art, Italian Renaissance and others. It was rare for Frick to look to experts for advice while amassing his art collection. He preferred
to rely upon his own opinions while making his purchases.
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Rembrandt van Rijn, Giovanni Bellini, El Greco, Frans Hals, Johannes
Vermeer, Francois Boucher, Thomas Gainsborough, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Joseph
Mallord William Turner, James McNeill Whistler are all found in the Frick Collection.
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Title: The Frick Collection Interior: Fragonard
Photographer: John Bigelow Taylor
Background Art Work Credit
Title: Love Letters (one panel in the group called The Progress of Love), 1771-1773,
Artist: Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732-1806),
Medium: Oil on Canvas
124 7/8 in. x 85 3/8 in. (317.18 cm x 216.85 cm),
© The Frick Collection, New York
Image Courtesy: The Frick Collection, New York
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One of the many highlights of Henry Clay Frick's art collection is Giovanni Bellini's St. Francis in the Desert.
Title: St. Francis in the Desert, painted about 1480
Artist: Giovanni Bellini (Italian c. 1430-1516)
Medium: Tempera and Oil on Popular Panel
Dimensions: 49 x 55 7/8 inches
© The Frick Collection, New York
Photo: Richard di Liberto
© The Frick Collection, New York
Image Courtesy: The Frick Collection, New York
Besides the extensive and outstanding permanent collection The Frick Collection hosts special exhibitions such as the upcoming
George Stubbs (1724-1806): A Celebration, Rococo Exotic: French Mounted Porcelain and the Taste for the East and
Gabriel de Saint-Aubin (1724-1780).
George Stubbs (1724-1806): A Celebration
Title: A Couple of Foxhounds, 1792
Artist: George Stubbs (English 1724-1806)
Medium: Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 101 ½ x 127 cm (40 x 50 in.)
Permanent Collection: Tate, London. Purchased with the assistance from
the Friends of the Tate Gallery, 1973
© Tate Gallery, London
Image Courtesy: The Frick Collection, New York
Horses! The equine portrait will forever be associated with British painter George Stubbs. His extensive study of horse anatomy naturally was of
aid in the accuracy of his art work. The book he published on the subject, The Anatomy of the Horse, in 1766 was a huge success partially
because of the illustrations Stubbs included. It led to his being in demand to paint horses and their owners.
Title: Haymakers, 1785
Artist: George Stubbs (English 1724-1806)
Medium: Oil on Wood
Dimensions: 89 ½ x 135 ½ cm (35 x 53 in.)
Permanent Collection: Tate, London. Purchased with the assistance from the Friends of the Tate Gallery,
the National Art Collections Fund, the Pilgrim Trust and subscribers 1977
© Tate Gallery, London
Image Courtesy: The Frick Collection, New York
Rococo Exotic: French Mounted Porcelain and the Taste for the East
Title: Pair of Deep Blue Chinese Porcelain Jars with French Gilt-Bronze Mounts;
Porcelain, China, 1st half of the eighteenth century; Gilt-bronze mounts, France, 1745-1749;
Dimensions: 17 7/8 x 18 5/8 x 10 11/16 in. (45.4 x 47.3 x 27.1 cm) and 18 7/16 x 18 5/8 x 10 5/8 in. (47 x 47.3 x 27 cm);
Permanent Collection : The Frick Collection, New York
© The Frick Collection, New York
Image Courtesy: The Frick Collection, New York
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Title: Deep Blue Chinese
Porcelain Jar with French Gilt-Bronze Mounts (unassembled); Porcelain,
China, 1st half of the eighteenth century; Gilt-bronze mounts, France,
1745-1749;
Dimensions: 17 7/8 x 18 5/8 x 10 11/16 in. (45.4 x 47.3 x 27.1 cm)
© The Frick Collection, New York
Image Courtesy: The Frick Collection, New York
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Lightness, grace and intimacy are the hallmarks of the Rococo style that began at the turn of the 18th Century in France and rapidly spread
across the continent and beyond. It was
an answer to the heavier Baroque style, then popular.
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Gabriel de Saint-Aubin (1724-1780)
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Gabriel Jacques de Saint-Aubin was a student of François Boucher. Throughout his life he tried and failed to make his living
as a painter. He had to settle for teaching at the Académie de Saint-Luc, an inferior school compared to the Académie Royale. He had limited
success selling his engravings and pastels but died all but destitute.
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Title: Sheet of Studies
Including a Portrait of Mademoiselle Clairon, 1773
Artist: Gabriel de Saint-Aubin (French 1724-1780)
Medium: Black Chalk, Brush and Colored Washes
Dimensions: 22.9 x 16.8 cm
Permanent Collection: Musée du Louvre, Paris,
Département des Arts graphiques, Livre des Saint-Aubin, fol. 21
Image Courtesy: The Frick Collection, New York
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Despite his lack of success as an artist Saint-Aubin often illustrated the humor in life in his works. Now his
drawings are recognized for their excellence.
The Frick Collection and the Louvre Museum have organized this exhibit celebrating
the work of Saint-Aubin. It is meant to bring long overdue
recognition to one of the European Enlightenment's most original and
innovative artists. The exhibition will present a selection of the artist's oeuvre, including painting, etching and drawing.
Henry Clay Frick's gift of his incredible art collection and home has created one of the best art museums in the world today.
The Frick Collection Exhibitions:
George Stubbs (1724-1806): A Celebration
February 14 - May 27, 2007
Rococo Exotic: French Mounted Porcelain and the Taste for the East:
March 6 - June 6, 2007
Gabriel de Saint-Aubin (1724-1780)
October 30 - January 27, 2008
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