Latest news with #Frick
Time Out
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
You can now feast among the Frick's masterpieces at the museum's new restaurant
Starting June 6, New Yorkers can officially a add 'Have a berry tart with elderflower crème at the Frick ' to their summer bucket lists—the iconic Upper East Side institution is opening its first new restaurant in nine decades. Named Westmoreland, this sleek new spot lives on the museum's newly renovated second floor and is part of a broader effort to modernize the Frick experience without sacrificing an ounce of its old-world charm. Named after the Frick family's private Pullman railcar (yes, really), Westmoreland is steeped in Gilded Age elegance. The 50-seat café offers ticket-holding museumgoers and members a refined table-service menu by Union Square Events, served in a transportive space designed by Bryan O'Sullivan Studio. Think green mohair details, floral-motif paneling and dreamy murals inspired by Japanese screens and Renaissance landscapes, all with views of the Frick's tranquil 70th Street Garden. 'As we continue to celebrate the Frick's grand reopening, we are thrilled to debut the museum's first-ever café,' said Axel Rüger, the museum's director. 'It will provide our visitors and members with a respite to enjoy conversation about the collection over refined food and beverages.' The menu, led by Executive Chef Skyllar Hughes, fuses seasonal, regional fare with nods to the Frick family's original menus. For breakfast-y bites, there's a caramelized onion and thyme scone or kale-ricotta quiche. For lunch, you can go high-brow (poached trout with spring onion sabayon) or comforting (a club sandwich with herbed aioli and potato chips). Vegetarians will find gems like the mushroom and feta toast and a perfectly zippy Caesar with add-ons like grilled chicken or fish. But the real showstoppers are the desserts and drinks. A strawberry tart with elderflower crème pâtissière makes for a floral finish, while the chocolate mousse duo (dark and white) leans lush and decadent. Beverage-wise, you can toast like a Gilded Age aristocrat with European wines and curated cocktails inspired by the museum's Cocktails with a Curator series. The 'Widow's Kiss'—made with calvados, benedictine, yellow chartreuse and bitters—is bound to become an instant favorite, and it sounds just as dramatic as the Bellini across the hall. Reservations are same-day and only available onsite, so plan accordingly. Whether you're museum-hopping or just craving a quiet meal surrounded by good art and even better design, Westmoreland is your new UES secret weapon. Just don't spill the soup near the Vermeer.
New York Post
7 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
Asian food staple great for heart health — the ‘magic' is actually what's grown on it, expert says
Rice, rice, baby. Not everyone knows that rice is a whole world that extends far beyond the white or brown on offer at your Chinese local. But there's one particularly healthy variety that has managed to largely fly under the radar on this side of the pond. 3 Red yeast rice — used in traditional Chinese medicine — is known for its benefits for cardiovascular health. MilletStudio – 'Red yeast rice is a brightly colored compound used in food and health products that is made by fermenting rice with a special type of yeast known as Monascus purpureus,' Dr. Amanda Frick, VP Medical Affairs at Thorne, told The Post. 'Red yeast rice has been used in traditional Chinese and western botanical medicine to maintain healthy cholesterol levels and support blood circulation.' Research has shown this crimson product contains naturally occurring compounds that can help keep total and LDL cholesterol — as well as triglycerides, which are the most common type of fat in the body — at optimal levels. It also contains a bunch of other, unpronounceable compounds — such as phytosterols beta-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol, and isoflavones — that can help keep your ticker running smoothly. But the real secret sauce isn't what's in it so much as on it. 'Red yeast rice does get a lot more attention for its health benefits than your everyday white or brown rice. The 'magic' of red yeast rice isn't actually in the rice itself — it's in what's grown on it,' Frick said. 3 Research has shown this crimson product contains naturally occurring compounds that can help keep total and LDL cholesterol — as well as triglycerides, which are the most common type of fat in the body — at optimal levels. Syda Productions – 'While white and brown rice provide a source of carbohydrates and fiber (depending on the rice type), they do not contain the additional nutrients like sterols and antioxidants that are found in red yeast rice.' While it is a rice, it's more commonly found in powdered form or as a supplement — or in some fermented foods. 'There are foods like fermented tofu, red rice vinegar, and Japanese rice wine (sake) that include red yeast rice,' Frick said. 'Depending on the specific use in traditional Chinese medicine, it may be best prepared with other food ingredients or at a particular temperature. 'For uses in botanical medicine, it's often preferred to offer in a supplement form for consistent delivery of the bioactive compounds in red yeast rice.' 3 'While white and brown rice provide a source of carbohydrates and fiber (depending on the rice type), they do not contain the additional nutrients like sterols and antioxidants that are found in red yeast rice,' Frick said. Pixel-Shot – While the side effects tend to be relatively mild — think gas, tummy troubles, headache and reddish poop — red yeast rice isn't for everyone. 'As with any new dietary supplement, it's important to discuss starting red yeast rice with your health professional, who can determine if this is the right option for you, your lifestyle and your overall wellness plan,' she said. 'Women who are trying to become pregnant, pregnant or breastfeeding shouldn't take red yeast rice. Those who have kidney or liver disease also shouldn't take it. Additionally, it may interact with certain medications, supplements, alcohol and grapefruit.' One other red flag: contamination. Some red yeast rice supplements can contain citrinin — a toxic byproduct of the fermentation process that can damage your kidneys or liver. Red yeast rice might not be magic — but when it's properly made and thoughtfully used, it could be a powerful addition to your heart-health toolkit.
Epoch Times
06-05-2025
- General
- Epoch Times
Fantastical Porcelain Florals at The Frick Collection
The Frick Collection's reopening after a five-year renovation has been heralded as a triumph. One of the wondrous things about visiting the museum right now is its special exhibition 'Porcelain Garden: Vladimir Kanevsky at The Frick Collection,' on view through Oct. 6, 2025. Installed throughout the museum's premises, including galleries on both the first and second floor and the Garden Court, are 19 breathtakingly intricate floral installations by the Ukrainian-born Kanevsky. Cohesively installed alongside diverse fine and decorative arts from the institution's permanent collection, these sculptures range in scale, form, and color. Each one enchants the viewer with its special blend of botanical accuracy and artistry. Kanevky's Floral Displays "Lemon Tree," 2024–2025, by Vladimir Kanevsky is installed in the Garden Court. Soft-paste porcelain, parian body, glazes, and copper. The Frick Collection, New York City. (Joseph Coscia Jr.) Kanevsky was born in 1951 in Kharkiv, Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union, but now lives and works in Fort Lee, New Jersey. While living in Russia, he studied architecture and sculpture, which proved to be integral foundations for his later porcelain practice. In 1989, he immigrated to New York—he had only $100 and spoke no English. Kanevsky took another leap of faith when he responded to a job ad for an artist who could produce an 18th-century porcelain tureen in the shape of a melon. He attempted the commission, which came from a prominent interior designer with a shop on Manhattan's Upper East Side. The piece was a success. Then, Kanevsky explored porcelain flowers, as he had been fascinated by botany since childhood. Detail of Vladimir Kanevsky's "Lemon Tree," 2024–2025, in the Frick's Garden Court. (Joseph Coscia Jr.) He compares floral structures to architecture, and he enjoys the technical challenges inherent in his work, which has been exhibited internationally, from Saint Petersburg's State Hermitage Museum to Washington's Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens. Tastemakers and style icons, including Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Oscar de la Renta, Valentino, and Martha Stewart have collected his work. Kanevsky says that 'Flowers are arguably the most prevalent topic in the history of art and architecture. Their cultural and symbolic significance offered infinite possibilities for artists.' His work is greatly inspired by traditional European porcelain dating to the 18th century, of which the Frick has a superb collection. The museum possesses examples from the leading French, German, and Viennese makers. An exquisite tableau in the exhibition inserts three Kanevsky tulips with delicate petals into a Du Paquier Manufactory vase. Each flower the artist makes is meticulously sculpted and hand-painted. Related Stories 4/30/2025 4/20/2025 "Tulip Stems," 2024–2025, by Vladimir Kanevsky is installed in the Du Paquier Passage. Soft-paste porcelain, glazes, overglaze, and copper. The Frick Collection, New York City. (Joseph Coscia Jr.) A Tribute to Helen Frick The exhibition, the culmination of a three-year collaboration between the artist and the Frick's curatorial team, is an homage to the museum's floral displays from its original 1935 opening. At that time, Henry Clay Frick's daughter, Helen, chose each room's fresh floral arrangement. "Lilies of the Valley," 2024–2025, by Vladimir Kanevsky are installed in the Boucher Room. Soft-paste porcelain, parian body, and copper. The Frick Collection, New York City. (Joseph Coscia Jr.) Xavier F. Salomon, the Frick's Deputy Director and Peter Jay Sharp Chief Curator, commends Kanevsky's tribute to the museum's 1935 inaugural floral displays. He says that the Contemporary artist's 'porcelain creations allow us to honor this tradition—along with the museum's important collections of historic porcelain and ceramics. His artistry bridges past and present, echoing the museum's longstanding dedication to beauty and innovation.' In two of the galleries, Kanevsky has repeated Helen's selections with his installation of camellias in the Library and lilies of the valley in the Boucher Room, part of the newly opened second-floor family rooms. "Lilies of the Valley," 2024–2025, by Vladimir Kanevsky are installed in the Boucher Room. Soft-paste porcelain, parian body, and copper. The Frick Collection, New York City. Joseph Coscia Jr. The other porcelain works honor Helen's intentions while juxtaposing different plants and flowers with the displayed art, inspiring reflection and conversation among viewers. One poignant tribute is the vibrant and ripe 'Pomegranate Plant' in the Gold-Grounds Room. After her father's death, Helen pursued acquiring religious Early Italian Renaissance paintings with gold leaf surfaces to add to t he Frick's holdings. Post-renovation, these works have been assembled together for display in her former bedroom. "Pomegranate Plant," 2024–2025, by Vladimir Kanevsky is installed in the Gold-Grounds Room. Soft-paste porcelain, glazes, copper, and terracotta. The Frick Collection, New York City. Joseph Coscia Jr. 'Pomegranate Plant' is dramatically situated in front of the room's mantle. The Frick writes that the sculpture 'is a tribute to a plant whose fruits are frequently represented in early Italian paintings and would have been well known by the artists represented in this gallery.' Above the mantle is a small but sumptuous picture by Gentile da Fabriano (circa 1370– 1427), who is considered among the greatest painters of his era. Born in the Marches region, he worked throughout Italy, from Milan and Rome to Venice and Tuscany. Patrons included the pope and the doge. His lyrical, highly detailed paintings are characterized by delicate brushwork, rich colors, and elaborate textile patterns. Additionally, Gentile was highly skilled in the application and tooling of gold leaf backgrounds. The Frick's ' ' dates from 1423 to 1425 and may have been made for a private patron's family chapel. At its center is the Madonna with the Christ Child, rendered in elegant, flowing lines. Gentile's advanced interest in naturalism is visible in the realistic, portrait-like heads of Saint Lawrence at left and Saint Julian the Hospitaler at right. Fragonard Room The Fragonard Room on the museum's first floor displays 14 panels by the French artist Jean-Honoré Fragonard. Joseph Coscia Jr. In contrast to the Gold-Grounds Room, the first floor Fragonard Room was assembled during Henry Clay Frick's lifetime and has been a visitor favorite at the museum since its opening. Initially, Mr. and Mrs. Frick used the space as their Drawing Room. A year after their mansion was finished in 1914, they acquired a set of lovely panels by the French artist Jean-Honoré Fragonard (1732–1806), which required the reconfiguration of the room. These panels are considered among the most romantic explorations of love in all of art history. Specifically selected furniture and objets d'art were subsequently added to enhance Fragonard's artworks. The Rococo artist Fragonard was born in Grasse, located in southern France. He trained in Paris under the distinguished painters Je an-S iméon Chardin and François Boucher and became one of the most important French artists of the second half of the 18th century. Fragonard produced a large body of work that included easel paintings and large-scale decorative panels often of genre scenes. "The Progress of Love: Love Letters," 1771–1772, by Jean-Honoré Fragonard. Oil on canvas; 124 7/8 inches by 85 3/8 inches. The Frick Collection, New York City. Joseph Coscia Jr. The Frick's Fragonard Room collection features 14 pictures, with the series referred to as 'The Progress of Love.' The four principal scenes—'The Pursuit,' 'The Meeting,' 'The Lover Crowned,' and 'Love Letters'—date to a 1771 to 1772 commission. The patroness was the infamous Madame du Barry, King Louis XV of France's last mistress, and the intended setting for the works was the music pavilion of her château west of Paris. However, perhaps due to society's changing artistic tastes, she declined the finished works. Instead, they were kept, probably rolled up, by Fragonard in Paris for 20 years. Upon his move to a cousin's villa in Grasse, the canvases were finally installed. Fragonard created an additional 10 pictures to fill the house's main salon. Over 100 years later, the series passed through the hands of English dealers before selling to American financier J.P. Morgan. After his death, the powerful art dealer Joseph Duveen purchased them for $1.25 million (over $31 million today) and sold them in turn to Henry Clay Frick at cost. Kanevsky has created a lush assemblage of cascading roses for this room, as well as displays of white hyacinths. "Cascading Roses," 2024–2025, by Vladimir Kanevsky are installed in the Fragonard Room. Parian body, copper, and terracotta. The Frick Collection, New York City. Joseph Coscia Jr. The sculptures in 'Porcelain Garden: Vladimir Kanevsky at The Frick Collection' induce awe and wonder. They help physically define the museum's spaces, both old and new, and enhance communication with the permanent collection. The flowers are so lifelike that one can almost smell the bouquets, and careful examination reveals imitation insect holes on some of the leaves. Kanevsky says, 'There is everything in flowers—history, drama, structure, beauty, and fragrance.' The same can be said about the Frick Collection and its special exhibition. "Cherry Blossoms," 2024–2025, by Vladimir Kanevsky are displayed in the Oval Room alongside James McNeill Whistler's 1871–1874 Joseph Coscia Jr. 'Porcelain Garden: Vladimir Kanevsky at The Frick Collection' exhibition runs through Oct. 6, 2025 in New York City. To find out more, visit What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to
CNN
01-05-2025
- Business
- CNN
Consumer spending soared in March as Americans tried to get ahead of tariffs
A car-buying frenzy, stoked by tariff fears, drove US consumer spending in March to its biggest monthly gain in more than two years, new data showed Wednesday. Consumer spending leapt 0.7% from February, according to a Commerce Department report released Wednesday that showed Americans shelled out last month for durable goods, particularly automobiles. The Commerce Department's Personal Income and Outlays report — which provides the most comprehensive federal data on spending, income as well as the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge — further reinforced what the recent retail sales data and anecdotal evidence have been indicating: Americans picked up their spending and likely pulled forward some purchases out of fear that President Donald Trump's tariffs will raise prices in the months to come. But as of March, price hikes were held in check and overall inflation slowed to its lowest rate since September — in part due to recession fears weighing down oil prices. Wednesday's report from the Commerce Department showed that the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index — the Fed's favored inflation gauge — rose 2.3% in March from the year before, slower than February's 2.7% increase. On a monthly basis, prices were unchanged, versus a rise of 0.4% in February. 'This was a good report, no question about it,' Robert Frick, chief economist with Navy Federal Credit Union, told CNN in an interview Wednesday. However, that takeaway comes with a major caveat: Trump's sweeping policies — particularly cutbacks in federal jobs and spending massive tariffs and mass deportations — not only have injected substantial uncertainty into the economy but also have significantly raised recession risks, Frick said. 'But let's not fool ourselves,' Frick cautioned. 'Things will get worse later this year, probably later in the summer. But for now, we really need to cross our fingers and hope that incomes and jobs hold up, because those are the things that will insulate us against the effective tariffs and higher inflation.' Economists expected the PCE price index to cool sharply to 2.2% annually in March, likely due to falling energy costs as oil prices slumped on lower demand expectations. Energy prices did indeed fall, plunging 2.7% in March. Food prices, however, saw their biggest jump in months, rising 0.5% from February. Excluding food and energy costs, the core PCE price index was flat for the month and slowed to an annual rate of 2.6% from 3%. In any other environment, inflation heading towards 2% would likely fuel optimism that the Fed would resume its rate-cutting ways and lower interest rates. However, Trump's economy-shaking policy decisions, especially those that have triggered a trade war with China, theaten to put the central bank between a rock and a hard place by stagnating economic growth while driving inflation higher. 'Inflation is set to pick up as tariff increases lead to higher goods prices,' Gus Faucher, chief economist for PNC Financial Services, wrote in a note on Wednesday. 'This will create a dilemma for [Fed policymakers]. Inflation is still above the [central bank's] 2% objective, but the labor market could start to soften, putting the committee's two goals in conflict.' The April jobs report is set to be released Friday and is expected to show a softening in employment gains but a still relatively stable labor market. However, other major economic data released Wednesday could portend some challenges for the months to come: In the first quarter, economic activity contracted for the first time in three years (amid a surge of imports) and a separate report on private-sector hiring showed a precipitous drop-off in job gains. Based on Wednesday's Commerce Department data, the economy is holding up for now. Consumer spending rose 0.7% from February, marking a sharp acceleration from 0.1%. It was the biggest monthly jump in spending activity in more than two years, Commerce Department data shows, as Americans rushed to buy products ahead of the bulk of President Donald Trump's tariffs. But the latest data lands at a time when uncertainty is swelling about the extent to which Trump's massive policy moves — including a broad array of tariffs — could upend global order and the US economy. Helping to fuel spending was a 0.5% jump in personal incomes, a strong rate that bodes well for continued consumer spending, Frick said. 'The No. 1 thing I always look for is income, because no matter how anxious people are feeling about the economy or inflation, if they have the money, they'll spend the money,' he said. Consumers didn't sock away as much into savings last month as they did in February, but the personal saving rate came in at a healthy 3.9%. Considering those household finance dynamics as well as inflation, Wednesday's release was a 'good report' but also another sign of a 'calm before the storm,' Frick said. 'In the context of what's to come, it will help bulwark us against the effect of tariffs and [product] scarcity and layoffs that will be coming,' he said.
Epoch Times
30-04-2025
- General
- Epoch Times
The Visionary Creation and Restoration of The Frick Collection
The magnolias are in bloom again at New York's The Frick Collection. The spring rebirth of these beloved trees, among the largest in the city, coincided with the April 17 reopening of the museum after a comprehensive five-year renovation to the tune of $ These sympathetic enhancements merge seamlessly with the original structure, the 1914 home of Gilded Age industrialist Henry Clay Frick (1849–1919) and his family. It was designed in the Beaux-Arts style by architectural firm Carrère and Hastings. A Lifetime of Art By working with the leading advisors, decorators, and dealers of his era, Frick amassed one of the most spectacular private art collections in America. It is resplendent with works by the leading artists of Western civilization from the Renaissance through the late 19th century. European paintings, bronzes, Limoges enamels, porcelains, antique furnishings, and other decorative arts are displayed side-by-side. It is an unusual curatorial choice for a museum, but one that evokes the atmosphere that the Frick family enjoyed when in residence. In his will, Frick bequeathed the mansion and its contents to the public for its enjoyment and education, and it has continued to be graced by exceptional stewards. The collection has grown to number around 1,800 works, requiring more gallery space and better infrastructure, which the renovation addresses. Almost half of the objects were acquired in Frick's lifetime, while the rest were purchased by the museum or donated by philanthropists. Recent gifts including Meissen and Du Paquier porcelain, significant works on paper, and its first Renaissance portrait of a woman, a Before the current reopening, the last major renovation of the Frick was completed in 1935. That year, the building and collection opened as a public museum. The necessary structural transformation to facilitate this was overseen by Helen Clay Frick, Henry's daughter, and was engineered exquisitely by classical architect John Russell Pope. He created the main floor galleries, the stunning interior Garden Court, and an adjacent nine-story building for the Frick Art Research Library, among other contributions. The Garden Court at The Frick Collection. Joseph Coscia Jr./The Frick Collection Now, the museum and library are connected internally, facilitating easy access between the two spaces for staff, scholars, and other visitors. The Frick's Main Floor Related Stories 11/13/2023 5/8/2023 The Frick Art Research Library Reading Room. Joseph Coscia Jr./The Frick Collection The library, free and open to the public, was founded by Helen in 1920 as a tribute to her father; originally, it was located in the house's basement bowling alley. Its collection of materials related to Western fine and decorative arts goes beyond the scope of the museum's holdings, spanning the 4th through the 20th century. The Reading Room's elegant, tranquil environment is enhanced by the adornment of studded red leather doors, historic lighting fixtures, painted oak beams, and a golden fresco. The James S. and Barbara N. Reibel Reception Hall at the Frick Collection. (Nicholas Venezia/The Frick Collection Murano glass lighting, a stunning staircase in calming Italian marble hues, and welcoming visitor service assistants greet guests in the freshly enlarged Reception Hall, a core feature in the museum's overall renovation and enhancement project as designed by Selldorf Architects. The firm is led by the eponymous Annabelle Selldorf, recognized for international cultural projects and recently named one of Grand staircase leading up to the Frick Collection's newly opened and renovated second floor galleries. Joseph Coscia Jr./The Frick Collection The pièce de résistance of the improved museum is the opening of this original second floor, which were the private family rooms of the Fricks before the building became a museum and the level was converted to offices. For decades, many a visitor would look longingly at the roped off Grand Staircase of the ground floor's South Hall and daydream about what treasures resided above. Now, visitors can ascend and discover the refurbished rooms curated with antique furniture, restored and recreated textiles, and, of course, artistic masterpieces. A Sneak Peak at the Second Floor The Small Hallway on the second floor is newly opened to the public and features a 1914 ceiling mural by Alden Twachtman. Joseph Coscia Jr./The Frick Collection A giddiness grips one while navigating the array of new galleries—each unfamiliar room beckons with enticing doorway glimpses. The visitor's progression is halted in the Small Hallway. What could be an ordinary passageway is made enchanting with a painted blue ceiling decorated with chinoiserie scenes of monkeys and birds, pagodas, and further whimsical motifs. Little is confirmed about the artist or the inspiration for this mural, which dates to 1914, but it is one of the joyful discoveries on this unchartered floor. Breakfast Room on the new second-floor gallery at The Frick. Joseph Coscia Jr./The Frick Collection Some of these new galleries are arranged in keeping with how they appeared during the Fricks' residency, such as the Breakfast Room. Others have been created anew. An example of this is the Medals Room, which is a display space for recent acquisitions in this genre. It includes a painting formerly not viewable by the public—a 15th-century Gentile Bellini portrait of a doge. Medals Room on the new second-floor gallery at the Frick. Joseph Coscia Jr./The Frick Collection Some fan favorites from the museum's ground floor galleries have been relocated up above. The Walnut Room, formerly Frick's own bedroom, showcases two of its signature female portraits. The depiction by the 18th-century British society portraitist George Romney of his muse Emma Hart, later the infamous Lady Hamilton, is given pride of place over the mantle and flattered by the wall's elaborately carved wooden garland. This placement is the same as it was in Frick's time. Across the room is the French Neoclassical artist Jean-August-Dominque Ingres's mesmerizing 'Louise, Princesse de Broglie, Later the Comtesse d'Haussonville.' The Walnut Room, formerly Frick's own bedroom, is now on view in the second-floor gallery. Joseph Coscia Jr./The Frick Collection Through Aug. 11, 2025, visitors have the rare opportunity to see one of The Gold-Grounds Room is a poignant tribute to Helen. Housed in her former bedroom, it displays a small, special group of Italian Early Renaissance paintings with gold backgrounds. This groundbreaking style was of particular interest to Helen, although her father preferred the High Renaissance. She was instrumental in the museum's acquisition of this assemblage. Highlights of this gallery, indeed, masterpieces of the Frick and museums in New York as a whole, are the Duccio and Cimabue panels. Both works are currently on loan to blockbuster European exhibitions: 'Siena: The Rise of Painting, 1300–1350' at London's National Gallery and 'A New Look at The Gold-Grounds Room, a new second-floor gallery, features Italian Early Renaissance paintings. Joseph Coscia Jr./The Frick Collection The most heralded area on this floor is the former boudoir of Adelaide Childs, Frick's wife and Helen's mother. In her lifetime, it was decorated with panels by the French Rococo artist François Boucher and his workshop. The panels were commissioned by Madame de Pompadour. The Boucher Room has been relocated to the former boudoir of Adelaide Childs, Frick's wife, on the second floor. Joseph Coscia Jr./The Frick Collection Until now, most of this tableau, including the marble fireplace, had been displayed on the museum's ground floor. The massive undertaking to disassemble what was called the Boucher Room, take it back up the Grand Staircase, and reinstall it to its original form was a massively complex undertaking spearheaded by Xavier F. Salomon, the museum's deputy director and Peter Jay Sharp Chief Curator. His concept has become a showstopper. The Boucher Room features decorated panels by the French Rococo artist François Boucher and his workshop and a collection of Sèvres porcelain. Joseph Coscia Jr./The Frick Collection The charming painted scenes of children engaged in various occupations of the arts and sciences are complimented by a collection of Sèvres porcelain, parquet flooring from an 18th-century château, and original silk upholstery, not to mention a wonderful view of the museum's Fifth Avenue Garden with the magnolias and Central Park. The Frick's 'Old Acquaintances' The ground floor Dining Room displays the Frick's 18th-century art collection. Joseph Coscia Jr./The Frick Collection For repeat Frick visitors, the revelatory second floor is stabilized by the familiar arrangements of 'old acquaintances' on the ground floor. The Dining Room has been maintained as an ode to Frick's 18th-century collection of British portraits, Chinese vases, and English silver. The handsome Library resumes the display of English portraiture, including the much admired 'Julia, Lady Peel' by Sir Thomas Lawrence, as well as landscapes, small Italian bronze sculptures, and even one of the quintessential American portraits of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart. Library Gallery on the main floor of the Frick. Joseph Coscia Jr./The Frick Collection The pictures in the Living Hall continue to be hung exactly as Frick arranged them in his lifetime. A religious El Greco portrait sits over the mantle, sandwiched between The main floor Living Hall displays pictures exactly as Frick arranged them in his lifetime. Joseph Coscia Jr./The Frick Collection The West Gallery is a heady runway display of additional treasures, which include one of the museum's three Vermeers, the last picture ever bought by Frick; Turner port scenes; a Rembrandt self-portrait; a royal Velázquez; and allegorical Veroneses. Like much of the ground floor, at first glance it appears unchanged. Of course, every original Frick gallery has been cleaned and touched up, from paint, plaster, and polish to critical state-of-the-art infrastructure updates. All of the skylights, including those in the West Gallery were replaced. The new windows have ultraviolet-protected glass, improving significantly the lighting conditions. The West Gallery is a main floor attraction at the Frick Collection. Joseph Coscia Jr./The Frick Collection The room's distinctive green silk velvet wall coverings have been reproduced, hand-loomed by the historic Prelle firm based in Lyon, France. The same company made the original fabric, which consists of three shades woven together, in 1914. Another example of a feature that may appear initially the same but is actually greatly improved is the small 70th Street Garden, viewable from the Reception Hall, the street, and several newly built vantage points. This cherished green space was created in 1977 by the legendary British garden designer and landscape architect Russell Page after the demolition of an adjacent townhouse opened the lot. It is unusual on several accounts, including that it is a viewing garden only and not meant to physically host visitors. East 70th Street façade of The Frick Collection. Nicholas Venezia/The Frick Collection The Frick's original renovation plans would have superseded this space, but public outcry led to its preservation and revitalization by celebrated public landscape designer Lynden Miller. In a Frick Collection video, Miller says that she is 'always thinking about seasons and texture and form, but also the spaces in between. Russell Page was very determined that the trees were not lined up the way you would think they'd be. They're all a little bit off, so he wanted you to see the verticals of the trunks, and so they're meant to make a beautiful shape against the walls.' The visionary Page was preoccupied with new ways of seeing, just like all of the talented architects, conservators, curators, gardeners, and other experts involved in the monumental, sensitively executed renovation. The renewal has created a palpable and enthusiastic energy that radiates from the friendly guards to the eager visitors. This project will allow The Frick Collection to continue to be a beacon of beauty and serenity for future generations. What arts and culture topics would you like us to cover? Please email ideas or feedback to
