Henry Clay Frick (1849-1919) was a 19^th century industrialist whose private art collection rivaled any in the world. This course examines masterworks of Western art from previous centuries, drawing on the Frick Collection, now accessible to the public. America’s gilded age is here, on full display.

A visit to The Frick Collection evokes the splendor and tranquility of a time gone by, testifying to the inspirational power of great art collections today. A wide range of masterpieces of Western painting, sculpture, and decorative art are on display in the serene and intimate setting of Frick’s upper eastside, New York City mansion. This unusual art museum houses innumerable textbook examples of European art styles, from the Renaissance to the 19th century. 

The class will examine outstanding works on view, ranging from Titian and Rembrandt, to Whistler and Renoir. Given the collection’s concentration of portraiture, differences in artists’ ways of interpreting their subjects will be discussed. Special attention will be given to Fragonard’s, Progress of Love, perhaps the best example of French Rococo style painting in the U.S.

We will conclude the class with a field trip to New York City’s Frick Collection, considering both the art and the complex architecture of the building.

**This course is now full, and closed to further registrations**