The Frick Collection

Overview

The Frick Collection is an intimate, exquisite art museum housed in the former Gilded Age mansion of steel magnate Henry Clay Frick on the Upper East Side, displaying Old Masters in the setting they were intended for.

Highlights

• Vermeer Room: Three paintings by Vermeer — including Mistress and Maid and Officer and Laughing Girl — a staggering concentration of the rare Dutch master's work.
• The Living Hall: A palatial room displaying works by El Greco, Holbein, and Titian in the intimate setting of Frick's personal living space.
• The Garden Court: A serene indoor atrium with a central fountain, skylight, and perfectly placed plantings.

History

Henry Clay Frick built the mansion in 1913–14 specifically to house his art collection and to eventually become a public museum. It opened in 1935, two years after his widow's death, preserving the domestic setting he intended.

Visitor Tips

• No Children Under 10: The museum has a strict policy — no children under 10 are admitted.
• Quiet Atmosphere: The museum's intimate, domestic scale creates a uniquely peaceful viewing experience utterly unlike the massive Met or MoMA.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours.