HenryClayFrickTheFrickisoneofthepredominantsmallartmuseumsinthewholeoftheUnitedStates.ThemuseumislocatedonFifthAvenueand70thstreet,andfacesontoCentralPark.ThebuildingistheformerresidenceofsteelmagnateHenryClayFrick(1849-1919).Itwasconstructedin1913-1914fromadesignbyThomasHastings.Frickwasgenerallyregardedasatoughentrepreneurwhoseonlyinterestwasinbusiness,butwithinhisfamily,hewasregardedasawarmandaffectionateman.HebecameanavidcollectorofartwhichheeventuallylefttotheAmericanpeople,plusalargeendowmentforitsupkeep.TheFrickCollectionincludesmanyverywellknownpaintingsbysomeofthegreatestartistsinEurope,plusmajorworksofsculptureandbronzes,thereissomesuperbeighteenth-centuryFrenchfurnitureandporcelains,alsoLimogesenamels,Orientalrugs,andotherworksofremarkablequality.Frick's,privateartcollectionwasmadeintoamuseumafterhisdeath.Ithasbeen用心爱心专心designedtofeelmorelikeaprivatehomethanapublicplace,withthemansionitselfbeingconsideredtobeaworkofartinitsownright.Thelowstonebuildingandcourtyardtakeupalmostanentirecityblock.OvertheyearstheCollectionhasexpanded,withaboutonethirdofthepicturesnowbeingexhibitedhavingbeenacquiredsincehisdeath.In1935andagainin1977,thebuildingwasenlargedtoaccommodatethegrowingcollection.Thefurniturethatadornsalltheroomsofthehouseisalmostentirelyfromthesixteenthcentury.Manyroomshaverichwoodwallsandfloors,marblefireplacesanddecorativecolumns,givingvisitorsthesenseofthegrandeurofabygoneage.Youwillseenothingmorerecentthan1880’sFrenchImpressionismhere;mostoftheworkisatleastacenturyolderthanthat,withonepiecebeingnearlysevenhundredyearsold.Thehousehasseveralsmall,roomssetofffromthemainones,sotakecarenottomissanyduringyourvisittothemuseum.ThetreasuresfoundhereincludemajorworksbyBellini,ElGreco,Vermeer,Velazquez,Goya,Turner,VanDyke,Rembrandt,RenoirandHolbein,pluswallpanelsbyFragonardandBoucher.Theindoorcourtyardwithafountainandglassceilingisalovelytranquilspot.BoththemansionandtheworksinitserveasamonumenttooneofAmerica'sgreatestartcollectors.ManyoftheroomsarearrangedalmostpreciselythewayHenryClayFrickwouldhavewantedthem.Unlikemanyothermuseums,theworksofartarenotdisplayedinanyparticularorderofdateorstyle,whichaddstotheimpressionofintimacy.NowhereinNewYork,orintheUnitedStatesforthatmatter,willyoufindsuchaninviting,intimatemuseumdisplayingsuchrareworks.用心爱心专心用心爱心专心
