Frick Collection

11/30/2012

Came here for about an hour before I had to go meet a friend elsewhere. I took the metro from Penn Station and walked across Central Park to get here.

They provide free audio guides- which I recommend, otherwise if you don't already know about the art, you'll be wandering around just looking at pretty things. The stories behind them make them much more special and memorable.

Lots of paintings from famous European artists (only ~2 American artists works are here). Most of the paintings are portraits. There are some landscape paintings and porcelain. Most of the rooms have fancy antique furniture too.

It's really a gorgeous place and worth the visit. Since it's small, it shouldn't take more than 1.5-2 hrs or so to see. It's nice to visit a museum which isn't overwhelming.

TIP: Students get a discount with their ID. YES! There's also a free coat check.

7/12/2012

It takes about a week to do the Met properly, and some serious suspension of disbelief to fully enjoy MoMa, but the Frick is a bite sized, gorgeous art collection that gives a glimpse into the greatest European artists, and then some.

It has some truly beautiful pieces of art, in a truly beautiful setting. The enclosed courtyard is so tranquil and the long room is utterly breathtaking with so many important works in one place.

I know that lots of people spend hours here, but it's perfectly possible to do the whole lot in less than two hours and come away feeling really cultured.

Top tip: after the culture, head for a cappuccino and sinful pastry at Sant Ambroeus on Madison at 77th Street.

7/1/2013

This was a spot that made it onto my list because of all the good online lists it has made for Top NY Museums. The place is easy to find and admission was $18 for adults. My bf and I arrived on a Sunday afternoon a little more than an hour before closing. The collection is beautiful and I especially loved walking through a place that was actual used as a private residence. Unfortunately, we didn't read up well enough before arriving to realize the self-guided audio is included in the cost of the ticket - Fail! Overall, we really enjoyed the collection, the space and the beautiful indoor fountain. This place is totally worth the visit for tourists and locals alike.

4/27/2013

Hidden away between 5th ave and Madison, a very nice little art museum.  Im not the artsy type of person, but my wife insists on coming here during every visit to NYC.  Plus for me is they have a mini movie theatre in there i can sleep in while the wife takes her time to stroll around.

1/7/2014

Why 5 stars?

1. Exquisite surroundings - this was once one family's home! Every bit of hand carved woodwork, grand staircase and even the door hinges are exquisite.
2. Manageable size - you can easily get around to all the rooms in 2-3 hours.
3. Every single painting or piece of sculpture is the very best example of that artist's work - Rembrandt, Titian, Degas, VerMeer, Renoir - the world's best of the best.
4. Serene setting.
Conclusion: The Frick is a must-see.

6/1/2013

I have visited the Frick Collection various times.  It offers a variety of art for an affordable price in the city.  I recommend you pay the extra for the audio guide.  You get a lot more insight of what you are viewing.

7/20/2014

Sumptuous resudence but very small art collection.  Not for serious art lovers.  Cannot take pictures.  For 20 bucks it's a very poor value.   Compared to moma this place is worth only 5 bucks.   only go during Sunday lunch when you can pay what you want.

7/31/2014

Beautiful, serene setting, nice collection of paintings, sculpture, and other artifacts.  Not too crowded, even in the height of tourist season.  The introductory film gives the viewer a concise, informative historical context.  The audio tour provides just the right amount of information to help the viewer understand the background of the painting and some of the artist techniques to observe, while leaving further scrutiny and reflections to the viewer.  I enjoy how Mr. Frick grouped paintings conceptually.  I stayed 1.5 hours and wish I would have had time to view every room thoroughly, which is estimated to take about 3 hours.  I will visit the Frick Collection again next time I'm in NYC.

3/16/2013

Even more than the Metropolitan Museum of Art, I adore the Frick Collection because it was one man's vision for his home and art collection that became this exquisite yet very manageable set of art that won't wear out an art lover wanting to view Corot, Rembrandt, Van Dyke, and my favorite - several Vermeers. There are some Renaissance paintings, sculptures, and many of the art objects are viewed in natural light in the context of the Frick family home.

I once was fortunate enough to visit when I could not only view the permanent collection but also a major exhibit of Parmigianino paintings and drawings there. Like the Isabella Gardner Museum in Boston, New York and art lovers the world over are enriched by an art collector who left not only their collection but their homes that housed the art to be open to the world as museums.

8/23/2013

Definitely a must see if you like art and are in NYC!  It is kind of off the beaten museum path which makes it that much better.  You can see Old Masters in a very intimate setting.  Take the headphones and go on the tour, you will not be disappointed.  Thank you Henry Frick for bequeathing the public such a beautiful museum.

3/31/2013

This is a great example of a personal art collection from the late 19th/early 20th century; I love how it is essentially a time capsule from that period. The highlights (for me) were the Vermeer paintings, the medieval religious art, and the Cupid room.

Annoyances:
The "no photographs" rule is coupled with the comparatively limited postcard selection available in the gift shop
There is really only one area in which guests are able to sit and take a break from walking the galleries (the courtyard); this is really unfriendly towards anyone who is older, has backpain, or is otherwise unable to stand for extended periods of time.

12/26/2013

The Frick Collection was nice and enjoyable.......and it was cool that it was actually his house! The only thing that made me tired was the fact that not every room had a bench....but I thought it was incredible to see all thee masterpieces in one building! My favorite room out of all of them was the one with the Titians.

2/18/2013

A unique place in town where everything is just exquisite!

12/18/2011

Henry Clay Frick (1849-1919), one of America's most successful American industrialist, financier, and art patron whose New York mansion which now serves as a quaint charming gallery museum of Western masterpiece paintings, sculpture and ornate art.

Here lies Pablo Picasso, the greatest draftsman, whose work is displayed as I had the great pleasure to view.  N.B.  No photography (flash or non-flash) and no videography are permitted on the premises as museum patrons will be ejected at will by security.  The indoor garden court atrium is BEAUTIFUL with a working fountain, ample marble benches, simple plants to create a sense of serenity, calmness and romance.  The indoor garden court is a picturesque image where it calls painters to paint the scene of a woman sitting reading a book.  Hard to believe Frick Collection was once a mansion home as it is well preserved and maintained, unlike MET, MoMa, or Guggenheim Museum which do not depict this same ambiance, Frick Collection is charming.  I felt like I was in a Long Island mansion, without the circle driveway but on the Upper East Side.  For a relaxing bitter cold Sunday afternoon with my Meetup group, it was enjoyable and eventful to be cultured of Pablo Picasso.  Paolo Veronese's "Wisdom and Strength" oil on canvas surely strikes a conversation as the man depicted is very weak for which the child clings on a fallen man, proven the woman is the core of wisdom and provides strength as a family unit.

Rules, rules of Frick Collection aside from the no photography, the outdoor garden grounds is not permitted to patrons.  Admission is ridiculously overpriced (except for Sundays for suggested donation which after 12:30pm it reverts back to regular admission fees.  The suggested donation time ends at 1pm on Sundays).  The second floor is inaccessible at all times, a printed guide book of the artwork is $2.00.  Security guards are Big Brother who watch patrons with a fine tooth comb ensuring no leaning on art pieces, no loud talking, no closeness of hovering over art piece, no touching, no large group congregation gathering, no photography, no eating, no misbehavior of any form et al.  I highly do not recommend children to visit this museum for the lack of sincere interest as it only induces the displeasure of pure boredom.

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• See all photos from Tina C. for Frick Collection

11/18/2013

Beautiful museum but the staff is one of the worst experiences I've ever had at a museum.

11/9/2013

The house is stunning, and not unlike the Getty in Los Angeles, tends to overshadow the collection itself. That's up to you if you see that a problem or icing on the cake. If this was in any random city in America it would be a destination, the fact that it's sandwiched in between the Met, MoMA, Whitney, and the Guggenheim makes it a little bit of a comma instead of an exclamation point.

It is pricey, lines tend to be long, but my main beef with the place (rendering it my least favorite museum in the city) is it's almost adversarial relationship with the patrons. There is no cafe, it is cramped and crowded, almost fetid at times, bathrooms are hard to find, and for some reason guards/staff have the aggressive air of nightclub bouncers at a Meatpacking District club, rendering a bizarrely sleazy vibe which cuts into the elegance, and transforms the experience, a unique misstep I've never seen in any other NY institution.

If you've gone to see the beautiful Masters of Dutch Painting, including Vermeer's Girl with the Pearl Earring, perhaps you even noticed the lazy curating. Paintings are hung so the harsh lighting from above washes out the art, and the informational cards by each painting were unreadable--dark black print on dark plum colored paper on a dark maroon wall. A five year old could have looked at that and said it didn't work.

That said, it's a beautiful place, a time machine of wealthy old New York, and ultimately who could argue with those Turners and Vermeers and Rembrandts and Gainsboroughs.

3/8/2013

While hardly as large as the more famous Met, say, this is to a large degree and easier museum to view precisely thanks to its size. The place is open and airy and has a sufficient amount of things to view in each room without being overdone or cluttered. It's well worth the entrance fee and far less crowded than it's bigger-name brethren, set up as the historical house it is as well as an exhibit hall for the art contained therein.

10/17/2012

I enjoyed visiting the museum, my favourite part was below ground where he has a collection of sketches that are both intricate and fascinating. There is a lovely feel about the home, and a coat room so you are not lumbered with your belongings while you wander around. There is a lovely indoor paved area with a fountain and many interesting sculptures that has benches to rest your legs as you listen to the audio guide.

When I visited, I was taking notes on the artists and was spoken to very sharply by a security guard, which diminished the experience for me. Also, I would have preferred a walk through path through the place as I kept having to retrace my footsteps.

There is something for everyone here and I definitely recommend it.

11/12/2013

I totally recommend this museum. I just love it from the outside as much as the inside. It's soooooo tasteful and elegant and I would love to know if they are renting any rooms here! LOL It is gorgeous! I find myself never getting tired of the huge detailed paintings. Im not a big art museum fan at all  and know very little about Victorian canvas paintings but this place has me hooked and anticipating exploring more art museums. The collection is exactly something I've been looking to experience in a while, but never encountered until now. I wanted to just sit here all day and take in the essence of the environment. A must see if you are visiting Manhattan's Upper East Side!

8/13/2012

The Frick Collection is like a gorgeous woman, exquisitely beautiful and enchanting but unapproachable and aloof.

During my visit I felt as I was admiring the lovely features of Madam Frick, studying all of her majestic angles from afar, giving praise to her elegant but cold persona, all the while being yelled at for standing to close; trying not to cringe from the glares and harsh warnings.

While we had a pleasant time sauntering within this petite lovey little museum and taking in the wonderful aesthetics of the mansion and the beauty of the art, the uptight Nazi soldiers that are the security guard put a damper to things. I felt uncomfortable as their dead eyes followed my every move. They would step forward and follow us when we move towards a painting and occasionally yelling at us not to touch anything.

No shit.

Despite the smothering cold presence of the security guards, I really enjoyed the Frick Collection. Henry Clay Frick, an insanely rich gentleman that originally lived in this mansion, had an extensive prestigious art collection that included works of Rembrandt, Monet, Renoir, Degas, as well as Goya. There were antique furniture and various other ornaments decorating each room. I had a deliriously good time pretending that I was a lady from one of Jane Austen's books, twirling around in my dress, speaking in a faux English, and freaking out my bf.

They have a resplendent interior garden court, complete with a shimmering pool, marble, stone benches, and plant life. It so very charming and fancy; I couldn't resist stealing a picture or two before a guard yelled at me. There is also a small movie about Henry Clay Frick that plays continuously throughout the day.

-PRICES
The admission price is very expensive. It is not worth paying the inflated prices to come here.
Come here on Sundays from 11am to 1pm for pay as you wish admission. I paid $0.25 for me and my bf.  A foreign tourist paid $20. Don't do that.
Adults $18
Senior citizens (65 and over) $15
Students with valid identification $10
Children under 10 are NOT admitted.

-PAY AS YOU WISH CROWDS (on Sunday 11am to 1pm)
No huge crowds. It was really nice.

-HOURS
Tuesday through Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Sundays: 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

-OVERALL
If you are in the UES portion of Central park or around the area definitely stop by during the pay as you wish period. You can see this majestic place in 2 hrs or less.

2/18/2013

A incredible private collection that outshines many museums. Vermeer, Rembrandt, Goya, El Greco and Reynolds. This is a not to be missed attraction if you have any appreciation for fine art. It's setting in an historical home only adds to its magnificence. Itr takes 3-4 hours to take it all in if you use the well constructed audioguide. Pay what you wish 11-1 on Sundays but expect crowds and show up early.

4/4/2014

Amazing building, fascinating history, and beautiful art- what more could you ask for? However, don't try to take a picture or even take out your phone. You WILL be scolded by they security guards.

3/7/2013

The Frick separates itself from the rest of the NY museums in that it has the feel of a home (it used to be owned and lived in by Henry Frick, hence the name) which has been transformed into a museum. The warm feel of the place is accentuated via Old Master, European, sculptures, ancient watches, and furniture throughout multiple rooms. The majority of these works were owned by Henry Frick, but there are some works that are on loan from private members.

The audio tour balances the discussion of the works themselves, but also their impact on Frick's lifestyle. By the end of the tour, you've felt like you went through a period of the turn of the century through his lens.

4/12/2014

Beautiful building with a nice collection. The best pieces are in the painting gallery including Rembrandt.

12/13/2012

One of the more interesting museums you can visit in NY because no one really knows about it! Full of drawings from old master's, and has a wonderful art reference library that you would need a letter of introduction and ID in order to use. I've only come here twice but I'm looking for another excuse to go back!

4/18/2013

First time i discovered i was very impressed. it wasnt  that long ago either. Only european artists, the only american is Whistler, as per Frick's request, who knows why. Quite a few Brits like Turner and Gainsborough. Miniature d'orsey + national gallery with a very cool winter garden front hall. Sundays before 1pm is suggested donation - you may encounter a line but well worth it.

7/26/2011

An absolute gem of a museum filled with one man's idea of some of the highest quality art in the world. Luckily, Mr. Frick had exquisite taste.  Both the art and its surroundings have been carefully preserved and enhanced over time. Selected works of Rembrandt, Monet, Degas, Van Dyck, and others fill the grand home. My particular favorite was Holbein the Younger's masterful depiction of Sir Thomas More, made even more compelling with his nemesis Cromwell facing him from the other side of the fireplace.

There's a short film on Henry Clay Frick and the collection  that plays on the half hour in the music room that was a really interesting way to start the tour. You can also make the most of the experience by picking up a free audio guide. Since almost every piece has a number for the guide, you can really learn a lot and deepen your appreciation for the works.

Regular adult  admission price is $12, but they also have "pay what you wish" time on Sundays between 11am-1pm. There's also a free coat/bag check (mandatory for large items, but a nice convenience even for smaller ones).

8/26/2013

I was in love with the idea of the Frick Collection.  I spent quality time on the website and planned my trip carefully.  The building is gorgeous and the art work itself is impeccably chosen and curated.   I spent the first hour in heaven and was so enthralled with the location that I thought I would join as a member.  

Then, suddenly, attack of the overzealous security guard.

It wasn't even me, some man I didn't know and I were both gazing at a beautiful painting in the main room, he was listening to his audio device.  We weren't moving, just standing there gazing at this lovely piece of art when a security guard stormed up to us and loudly told the man that he had to "step back from the painting".  WTF?  

It was so disruptive and jarring that I started watching this guy...he was clearly on something, furiously chewing gum (why is that ok in this museum?), eyes darting all around, legs bouncing.  I watched him for possibly 4 minutes during which he randomly picked out and disrupted three other people who were also not standing too close to paintings.  So the spell was broken.

Look, I'm all about protecting the art, people who take pictures of every painting are idiots and of course no one should touch anything..but no one was and no one was even trying to.    

And nothing is more awesome than being yelled at by TSA-like security guards for not having done anything wrong.  

So I left.  And I doubt I will ever return.

12/21/2013

There is no question that the Frick has an exceptional permanent collection of old masters. There is no question that they also possess the least friendly staff of any museum in New York city. There is nothing so edifying as watching a 22 year old bellowing at a 70+ year old for being confused about where the coat line starts. Or charming as a 30 year old shrills at a 55 year old for having the temerity to carry their coat. My favorite so far: my wife is apparently not permitted to bend over to read the titles of the books on the shelves in the library.  Keep in mind, I am not saying (a) kneeling, or (b) touching, or (c) photographing.  Oh no. I mean literally bending at the waist. I am all for protecting art, and for having clear signs and rules, but I simply cannot abide rudeness--especially to seniors.

3/22/2013

This museum is sooo random! I was there today and I heard a docent telling her tour group that "there was no acquisitions policy written down" until 1951 and I was like, no shit lady. The Fricks were just buying whatever struck their fancy and now New York has this weird museum celebrating them and their whims. I guess it's useful for figuring out your taste in painting, because there is such a weird mix--without any kind of chronological or historical narrative to rely on--that it's really up to you to decide what's worth looking at and how you should look at it. Though there is a free audio guide.. but audio guides are for dweebs.

And there is a lot to like here. For instance, I LIVE for Holbein the Younger and the portrait of Thomas Cromwell is absolutely radiant. I also am obsessed with the two Turner paintings of the northern European port cities, with orange waters and yellow skies. The Cologne one has a puppy drinking from the Rhine. It's nice that they have big couches under each Turner to rest on and look around. Each would be ideal for resting in while looking at the Turner on the opposite wall... BUT in the middle of the gallery there's a table with some decorative statuettes on it, so if you try to look at the opposite Turner there is a centaur abducting a woman and blocking your view (so instead you have to look a little to your left, at Margareta Snyder, an old Dutch lady who had to wear a huge collar so she wouldn't bite her stitches). The centaur is additionally annoying because, like most of the Frick's decorative arts, it's just a tacky expensive tchotchke. Other "highlights" of the applied arts include nymphs on a clock and two porcelain geishas who look like they're high.

Let's get real--some of the paintings are pretty bad too. Like the Goya portrait of a military officer who has this smug-but-insecure hipster look on his face (which, I'll admit, is weird in a good way--but certainly not a significant work as far as Goyas go), or Manet's big pastel-colored scene of a mother and her two little girls, all of whom look like stupid dolls, and the only dark color is their spooky eyes, which are gawking at something off the canvas.. what the hell is it? I actually don't even care. Also don't care about the big boring French paintings with lots of dark trees, none of which are even Poussins.

The moral of this story is, if you have obscene amounts of cash you can buy whatever art and knickknacks you like and put them in your Fifth Avenue mansion, and that's fine. But it's overly pretentious to assume that other people need to see it just the way you left it.. it's better to donate it to the Met or the National Gallery and let the curators make sense of it. But I can see why Henry might have had some immortality issues with a name like Frick.

9/2/2013

waste of time

size of the museum is very small...it would take only 30 minutes.

most of the collections are paintings.

2/11/2013

The permanent collection here is amazing and there is so much to see. There's so many oil paintings by Rembrandt and Titian. Many of the works are huge. The fountain area in the middle is delightful to sit in and the sunroof allows a lot of sunlight to come in. There was a visiting drawing exhibit downstairs. You easily spend around 2 hours taking your time looking at all the works. There is no photography allowed at all here. There's a coat check the student ticket price is $10.

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  From 5th ave

  From 5th ave

11/1/2012

Wow. Where do I start? This is a very, very impressive collection of art, a wonderfully-curated selection and quite possibly the most enjoyable one I've encountered yet in any museum.

Talking about Frick's collection is like an exercise in unabashed name-dropping: Cezanne, Degas, Delacroix, Jacques Louis David, Monet, Manet, Seurat, Vermeer, Rembrandt, Goya, Van Gogh, Turner, Corot, Millet... where do you stop?

More than the artwork itself, it is the building that it is housed in: because this was a home (albeit a very fancy one indeed), there is an inherent sense of intimacy and warmth. I was here on a Thursday afternoon, and despite (or maybe I should say "because of") the geriatric crowd, it was really mellow. There was always space to step back and admire the Old Masters, take them in.  

The admission fee also includes the excellent audio guide, so be sure to pick one up. I would not have gained as much from my visit if not for the succinct yet informative (and at times evocative) audio descriptions.

Certainly a frickin' amazing hidden gem in New York City. Don't miss it! And bring grandma!

2/10/2013

I actually came across this museum while searching on Yelp for places to see while in Manhattan. It was the former home of Henry Clay Frick. This museum really cant be explained in words, just needs to be seen in person. I am not a huge museum guy, but I always seem to feel better about myself after some culture.

I cant believe that this was someone's home. It is insanely huge, beautiful and amazing. If you find yourself on the UES, check it out. A must see.

7/29/2013

I love this museum. Definitely a gem in the City and a place to check out for you and your friends.

7/22/2011

Unfortunately (and I hate to say it) but I was not impressed. In fact, I felt that it was a waste of time & money. The gardens were having some maintenance done so weren't open to visitors, the upper level of the house is never open, has been turned into offices. The first floor has some furnished rooms while the other larger rooms are all turned into art display.

As for the art display, I'm not going to even pretend to be the kind of person who'll sit in front of a painting and stare at it for hours, am not an art major, no expert by any standards. I'm the average person who would like to see things that are visually & esthetically pleasing. While the art collections itself has several big names that I recognized, nothing really made an impression. It's just one of those things that I have now been able to cross off my list as 'been there'.

But hey.....don't let that stop you, who knows.....you may be the person who will stare at a painting for hours.

9/19/2011

I really wouldn't say it's as good as it gets, but if you live in NYC, you should check it out on a free or pay what you wish morning.

I'm not an art person, and this place has a bunch of old drawings and paintings.

Would I pay to come here? Nope.
Would I recommend visitors with limited time in NYC to check this place out? Nope.  

There are better museums and galleries out there, but having the Frick as another option is welcome especially if you're constantly getting bored and looking for more things to check off your list of NYC.

10/5/2005

The building was the mansion of Henry Clay Frick, whose massive collection dates from the Renaissance through the late 19th Century. Spend an afternoon in this elegant museum, opened to the public in 1935, and you'll see works by Bellini, Constable, Gainsborough, Goya, El Greco, Manet, Monet, Rembrandt, Renoir, Vermeer, and Whistler, in addition to porcelains, bronzes, sculptures, and period furniture.

8/8/2013

As a native New Yorker I may have a little bit of a skewed perspective but I think the Frick is a bit overrated.  Yes, I will admit that it is amazing to see this "house" on 5th Avenue that reminds us of a time where the wealthiest of the wealthy occupied homes along the tree lined street.  I have to say though that the collection inside is small and it feels cramped to move around inside.  If you are interested in strictly period pieces that the owner has collected and a nice view and interior design lesson while you're at it, then this is the place for you.  If you are looking for a large scope of artists, I will always recommend the MET.

2/3/2014

Good museum with a nice, varied collection. The marketing for the recent Dutch Renaissance exhibit was misleading; my friend and I expected more Vermeers. They lose points also for not having a cafeteria. (Something about museums makes me ravenous.) But the worst thing was that I ordered the "Girl with the Pearl Earring" tote bag online and had it sent to my mother, who loves Vermeer. They sent her the wrong bag. I sent the store an e-mail to alert them of the error. After a few days, no one had gotten back to me, so I called. A woman I talked to told me my mother was to send the wrong bag back. Not sure why my mother should have to go out of her way and spend money on postage because of their mistake. It has been quite a while, and my mother still has not received the bag.