November 07, 2006
Cleveland's best Old Masters on loan to Frick
Construction at the Cleveland Museum of Art is about to provide a bonus to New York City.
The Frick Collection has arranged a deal to display 14 of Cleveland's finest Old Masters at its Upper East Side Beaux-Arts mansion.
 Among them is Jacques Louis David's "Cupid and Psyche," depicting the playfully sensual scene of Cupid trying to sneak away from his lover's bed before sunrise - no easy task since she's sleeping on one of his wings. Painted by David when he was nearly 70 years old, the Frick's Chief Curator Colin B. Bailey called it "a gutsy work."
Also on view is the Andrea del Sarto's unfinished "The Sacrifice of Isaac." More complete in some sections than others, it was meant only as a working sketch and would likely have been discarded if the artist didn't die shortly after, Bailey said during a media preview of the exhibit Monday.
There's a bit of odd history behind the loan considering Cleveland's first director, Frederic Allen Whiting, asked to borrow 50 works from Henry Clay Frick in 1916, a request that Frick shot down and offered up only one. Whiting said no thanks, and opened his museum without Frick's help. Apparently all has been forgiven.
"Masterpieces of European Painting from The Cleveland Museum of Art" opens Wednesday and will be on display at the Frick through January 28.
Image credits: (Top) Jacques Louis David (1748-1825) "Cupid and Psyche," 1817, oil on fabric, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund.
(Left) Andrea del Sarto (1486-1530) "The Sacrifice of Isaac," c. 1527, oil on poplar, The Cleveland Museum of Art, Delia E. Holden and E. Holden Funds. Both images provided for use here by The Frick Collection.
November 7, 2006 11:49 AM in Museums, Sightsology, Upper East Side
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