The Reopening of the Frick
My favorite museum is back, and better than ever!
The Frick has always been my favorite museum, and I thought I was the only one—turns out it's everyone's favorite. After a five-year renovation, it's opening to the public this week on April 17th. Lucky me, I was invited to an early preview with a couple of friends, Laura and Flora.
As you probably know from my past posts, I tend to prefer smaller museums over big ones. You'll often find me at the Cooper Hewitt instead of the Met or Musée Cognacq-Jay rather than the Louvre.
But The Frick was different! This was my museum! Was it because I lived nearby and I remember being able to visit when my little sister, who was 9, could not? (You had to be 10.) Or was it because I used to spend time there with my father, who had a gallery nearby on 75th Street? (It turns out it's his favorite, too.) Though I hadn't been in a very long time, returning felt surprisingly familiar.
The Frick was the private home to Henry Clay Frick and his family until his death in 1919. In 1935, it became a museum of the family's personal collection of European paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts. What makes the Frick so special is that it has the feeling of a grand home while full of world-class masterpieces.
One of the biggest changes about the renovation is that the museum has opened the family's second-floor living quarters to the public. These rooms have been transformed into 10 new galleries, nearly doubling the exhibition space. This expansion means that many pieces that were previously kept in storage are now on display— So, even if you've visited before, you'll discover pieces you've never seen.
Up the familiar grand staircase, the second-floor rooms were always roped off. Mrs. Frick's private boudoir, the Boucher Room, has been painstakingly moved piece by piece back to its original upstairs location—light pours in as intended, overlooking the park. The Boucher murals are absolutely incredible—delicate scenes of soft pastels. The couches have been renovated with fabric from that time. It's absolutely gorgeous and feels so intimate and elegant.
Vermeer's "Mistress and Maid" hangs in the first floor West Gallery. I've loved Vermeer since college—he was always my go-to when writing papers (yes, I was an art history major). The gallery has been freshened up, and the newly cleaned skylight really brightens up the painting. The quiet moments Vermeer captures between people, the light, the details—it's all there.
Another all-time favorite of mine is Ingres' portrait of "Louise de Broglie, Countess d'Haussonville," which is now on the second floor in the Walnut Room. There’s just something about her gaze and the incredible detail in her blue satin dress and her belongings on the table—it makes me think, "What if I were there?" in that moment, in that dress, in that life. 🤯
The Garden Court is truly one of the highlights of the museum. This beautiful indoor garden has a few sculptures, but what makes it special is the atmosphere. Even on the rainy day of our preview, the natural light filtering through was perfect.
Since the Frick was actually someone's home, I love seeing the decorative arts and furniture too. It's fun imagining the Fricks living here, sitting on these chairs, eating at these tables, walking past these paintings every single day. The mix of art and everyday life makes it feel completely different from your typical museum.
I got a chance to speak with Katherine Ellis, one of the employees at the Frick, and asked her what she would like people to know about the renovated museum. Her answer was, "We want people to feel like they're coming home."
Though it was quite crowded during the preview, making it difficult to take in everything, it certainly felt like coming home to me! If you've never been to the Frick, go check it out when it reopens on the 17th. And, if you're like me—and apparently lots of others!—you'll be so happy to "come home." Say hi to Vermeer for me!
Can't wait to visit!
Adds to list of must see