Portraits, Pastels, Prints: Whistler in The Frick Collection
June 2 through August 23, 2009
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James Abbott McNeill Whistler (1834–1903), Symphony in Grey and Green: The Ocean, 1866, oil on canvas, The Frick Collection |
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This summer The Frick Collection will present an exhibition dedicated to the colorful and often controversial artist James Abbott McNeill Whistler (1834–1903). The Frick’s ensemble of four full-length portraits by Whistler will be displayed in the museum’s Oval Room alongside his evocative seascape Symphony in Grey and Green: The Ocean (1866). The exhibition will include pastels and etchings from his Venetian sojourn of 1879–80. Drawn entirely from the permanent collection, these works show Whistler’s command of three distinct media and demonstrate his concern for the harmony of form, color, and composition. It is the first time in more than twenty years that these portraits, pastels, and prints will be on view together.
Whistler was a master etcher, and he returned to this medium throughout his career. He traveled to Venice to complete a commission from the Fine Arts Society for twelve etchings, which came to be known as the “First Venice Set.” In the etchings, Whistler translates Venice’s vibrancy in a restricted palette of black, brown, white, and gray. Whistler later described these effects as “painting with exquisite line.” In the exhibition, three plein-air pastels provide a colorful counterpoint to the etchings.
Permanent Collection
The Frick Collection includes some of the best-known paintings by the greatest European artists, major works of sculpture (among them one of the finest groups of small bronzes in the world), superb eighteenth-century French furniture and porcelains, Limoges enamels, Oriental rugs, and other works of remarkable quality.
There is no special exhibition at this time, however, several are scheduled annually. Use the following links, or use the links at left, to see our featured or current exhibitions and installations, or future exhibitions. You may also visit previous exhibitions and installations or purchase catalogues of past shows from our Museum Shop.
We are pleased to announce a searchable database of works of art in the permanent collection, available at collections.frick.org. You may bookmark the following link "Search Our Collections," which is also available on each page on this Web site.
You are also invited to investigate our permanent collections area by visiting the virtual tour section, available from the Virtual Tour, on each page of this Web site. This section contains information about the history of The Frick Collection, the galleries used for displaying our permanent collection, and includes a virtual tour and audio files. For questions about visiting The Frick Collection, see Visitor Information. |
