In recognition that the Frick Art Reference Library has fostered a “silent” dialogue among scholars since its founding — this most particularly in the exchange of opinions recorded on the study mounts of the Photorachive — the Library established its program Dialogues on Art in 2000. These annual panel discussions, co-sponsored by The Frick Collection and Knoedler & Co., bring together leading figures in the worlds of art museums, galleries, journalism, criticism, and academia to discuss a single topic for the benefit and stimulation of the audience.

Topics to date have addressed The Art Market and the Collector; The Patron as Benefactor (i.e., the challenges of dealing with the spirit and the mandate of a single collector’s vision for his museum); Recollections [i.e., Advice] for the Future; Special Exhibitions: Politics and Planning; The Bid’s Against You: Perspectives on the Auction House; Points of View: The Power of Art Journalism; and The House Museum: The Intersection of Public and Private Art Collecting. As the Library strengthens its position as a new Center for the History of Collecting in America, public events such as these will expand to include symposia and scholarly colloquia.

For more information, see Lectures: Dialogues on Art.