The Arts in New York- Review #1
For my first cultural event I went to the Frick Collection in Manhattan. The Frick Collection is located on the corner of East 70th Street and 5th Avenue. The museum was the private collection of a turn of the century art collector called Henry Frick. Mr. Frick made his fortune in steel and then used his great wealth to transform his house into a small art museum, which bears his name. Before my visit to the Frick Collection I didn’t believe that one individual home in New York could be so beautifully decorated and have so many famous pieces of art. What stood out most for me about this museum was the architecture in the house and the well-known European painters represented there.
Not only is the Frick Collection located in a glamorous area of the city, but it also has an inside that is equally gorgeous. The living, dining and sitting rooms all sported fireplaces as well as luxurious furniture. The carpets, small sculptures and enamels made the place feel all the more inviting. There was a second floor of the house that patrons were not allowed to view, but I could see that at the top of the staircase sat a magnificent altar. My favorite room in the house had to be the garden court/music room, which boasted a fountain, plants and see through ceiling. According to the commentary many famous musicians and writers like Isaac Stern and T.S.Elliot performed there.
One of the things that I first noticed about the Frick Collection after I walked in was the vast amount of famous European painters. This came as somewhat of a shock to me since I didn’t think that such a small museum could house the same artists I had seen in much larger collections throughout the world. It seemed that most of the works of art were made between the 15th and 17th centuries. This collection wasn’t limited just to one countries artist, but instead Dutch, French, Spanish and Italian artists were represented in its halls. The theme of nature was one popular theme throughout such as in Monet’s “Winter”. Another theme that I noticed was prevalent was that of Christ like in Gentile da Fabriano’s “Madonna and Child” and Claude Lorrain’s “Sermon on the Mount”. Some of the portraits weren’t as formal like Rembrandt’s picture of himself in old age.
Overall I can’t say anything negative about my experience in the Frick Museum. The Admissions ticket is cheap (only 5 dollars for students). They also provide you with a hand-held audio to listen along at each piece. This is very convenient especially of art amateurs like myself. So instead of just wondering around, I was able to pause at one piece, listen to the commentary and absorb the culture. There is also a nice quiet place to rest in the music room in between exhibits when you grow tired. I would recommend The Frick Collection to anyone who enjoys art, doesn’t have a full day to spend at a larger exhibit and just wants a peaceful place to take in culture in New York.