Frick Collection

The Frick Collection is one of the hidden GEMS of NYC museums. In all of my many visits to NYC over the years, I had never heard of it until reading about it in my 1,000 Places to See Before You Die book. It reminded me of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, though with fewer- though still impressive artifacts. Gardner Museum has artifacts EVERYWHERE you look while the Frick has them a little more spaced out, yet some REALLY impressive art.

The space itself is amazing- unfortunately, no photography allowed and their gift shop closes earlier than the museum (I didn't know that so I wasn't able to buy a book or any post cards- William was slightly relieved that I didn't buy yet another book :-) It was their actual home, though the cloister type courtyard was added when the museum was created. With the price of admission, you are given a free audio guide that provides commentary to many of the rooms and major works of art. Most of the art that was purchased during the lifetime of steel tycoon Henry Clay Frick and part of his will included stipulations for building a museum where his works of art could not be loaned out. I was stunned to see that that the collection has THREE Vermeer's including "Officer and Laughing Girl". There were also a Rembrandt, a few paintings by El Greco- my favorite being "Purification of the Temple", Goya- "The Forge", Velazquez, Hans Holbein's "Sir Thomas More" which the photo does not do justice for the amazing red velvet and the vivid green curtain in the background- one you definitely need to see in person, Constable, Gainsborough- particularly "The Mall in St. James' Park", and those are just the highlights. The museum also includes furniture, tapestries, sculptures, all within this incredible ambiance. This is a MUST SEE for art lovers.