Frick Collection Buys First Painting In 26 Years

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — The Frick Collection, a fine art museum on the Upper East Side, has bought its first painting in 26 years, museum officials announced this week.

The museum recently acquired an early 19th century portrait by French painter François-Pascal-Simon Gérard’, marking its first major painting acquisition since 1991, museum officials said in a press release. The painting depicts Prince Camillo Borghese a brother-in-law of Napoleon Bonaparte and a patron of the arts.

The painting will be put up for display at The Frick Collection, located on East 70th Street and Fifth Avenue, in late 2018, according to a press release.

The decision to purchase artwork is not one that is taken lightly at The Frick Collection, museum board of trustees chair Elizabeth Eveillard said in a statement.

“The Frick’s holdings, as a group, have been compared to a necklace assembled one precious pearl at a time. The sentiment reflects the modest scale of the collection born of its founder’s individual taste, balanced by the absolute requirement of quality," Eveillard said in a statement.

"With this striking painting, coming to the Frick with an unbroken provenance from the Borghese family, still

on its original, unlined canvas, and in its original frame, the Frick has found a rare masterpiece to harmonize with its esteemed holdings."

Photo courtesy The Frick Collection/Michael Bodycomb. Painting by François-Pascal-Simon Gérard