The Fricks Collect: An American Family and the Evolution of Taste in the Gilded Age

Before his New York home became a museum, Henry Clay Frick engaged some of his era’s most important art dealers to build a notable collection and the best decorators to create suitable Gilded Age interiors to accommodate the works. This story traces the journey that led to the creation of one of America’s finest art collections.

At its heart, this story centers on Frick and his daughter Helen Clay Frick, both pivotal figures in the formation of the renowned Frick Collection. The volume delves into the Fricks’ exposure to and acquisition of some of the finest art of their time. With an exquisite blend of textual narrative and ample imagery showcasing masterpieces and the sumptuous interiors of homes in Pittsburgh and New York, the book offers a captivating narrative of ambition, wealth, and cultural patronage.

White, Allom & Co. and Elsie de Wolfe worked with Frick on the decoration of his houses and influenced the choice of many furnishings the owner acquired and that formed the backdrop for his paintings. As was commonplace at the time, decorators often collaborated with dealers in creating spaces suitable for the esteemed works of art. Further influential figures who shaped the era’s cultural landscape include Frick’s business partner Andrew Carnegie and noted art dealers Joseph Duveen in London and Charles Carstairs of M. Knoedler & Co. in New York. Presenting the glittering halls of their homes and the masterpieces adorning the walls of The Frick Collection, this volume is a testament to the enduring allure of art and the power of patronage in shaping cultural institutions.

Ian Wardropper is the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Director of The Frick Collection. Julian Fellowes is an English novelist, director, and screenwriter, best known as the creator and head writer of the popular TV series Downton Abbey.