Art in NYC: Elective Affinities – Edmund De Waal At The Frick Collection

Site-specific temporary installations in porcelain, steel, and glass by the sculptor Edmund de Waal are displayed in the main galleries of the Frick from May 30 – November 17, 2019

Edmund de Waal, that pause of space, 2019 on view in the North Hall in The Frick Collection — Edmund de Waal (b.1964), that pause of space, 2019, porcelain, gold, alabaster, aluminum, and plexiglass, on view in the North Hall, © Edmund de Waal. Courtesy the artist and The Frick Collection; photo: Christopher Burke

Renown for its exquisite assortment of the works by old masters, the Frick Collection presents the arrangements Elective Affinities by the modern sculptor and author Edmund de Waal. The prior success of De Waal’s – installations at the historic sites alongside his passion for porcelain and its history and his fascination about the diaspora and memoir make the gilded halls of the Frick Museum a perfect space to showcase his art. He is the first living artist invited to exhibit there.

Inspired by the museum collection of grand works by Gainesboro, Fragonard, Goya, and Ingres, de Waal’s minimalist installations augment the permanent collection and shine new light on its significance.

The elegance of the Elective Affinities opens a new perspective on the meaning of art and the power of inspiration. Adding fluidity and minimalism of expression, the installations bring well-fitting modernity to the time tested artworks.

Pace your way through the main halls of the Frick allowing for some extra time in each gallery to absorb de Waal’s stories behind each arrangement while contemplating on the continuity of art over the four centuries. The exhibition is accompanied by the passionate and exciting audio narration by the artist. Audio stories can be found on the museum website.

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Art in NYC: Zurbaran’s Jacob and His Twelve Sons at The Frick Collection

Zurbaran’s remarkable series on loan from Auckland Castle, England is on view until April 22, 2018

Frick Collection Jacob twelve sons Zurbaran Genesis

The Frick Collection, located in the heart of Manhattan, is presenting Francisco de Zurbaran’s incredible series of portraits of Jacob and his twelve sons from his two wives, Leah and Rachel, and two concubines, Bilhah and Zilpah, as is found in the Book of Genesis. While the depiction of these characters in the form of the life-size portraits is unusual for the time, Zurbaran followed very closely the prophecies and verses for the Old Testament to make each portrait easily recognizable by the details of the garments, or the attributes of trade, or background landscapes. The history of the portraits, which were created between 1641 and 1658, is also full of missing pages and lost provenance with the first record of it appearing only in 1722. In 1756 Richard Trevor, Bishop of Durham had acquired the series but the one portrait of Benjamin. The series was installed in the Long Dining Room at Auckland Palace in Durham, England as a political statement of religious tolerance and support of the Jewish Naturalization Act of 1753. The portrait of Benjamin hangs in Grimsthorpe Castle, Lincolnshire. Bishop Richard Trevor ordered a copy of the portrait of Benjamin done for his collection. It is remarkable that American public can see the series in full and appreciate Zurbaran’s original intentions. Read More

Tag: Frick Collection