Last week’s scorching temperatures (which, by the way, are supposed to be back by the end of this week!) had me dreaming of the atrium at the Frick. A lunch hour spent there, listening to the flowing fountain, is wholly restorative. I’m telling you, this atrium is among the most serene, transportive places on the island of Manhattan. (Note: they don’t allow food or drink, so leave time to grab something afterward.)
As if the promise of this oasis weren’t reason enough to rush over to Mr. Frick’s 5th Avenue Mansion, there is Giovanni Bellini’s extraordinary St. Francis in the Desert (c. 1480). This masterwork is considered one of the greatest Renaissance paintings in any museum in America. It has always been on display at the Frick, but it recently underwent a huge technical examination, and the new findings are so neat. Using infrared reflectography, experts could analyze Bellini’s groundwork, including where he made changes and where he spent time sketching in detail underneath the layers of paint. They also used photomicrographs to zoom in super closely on his brush strokes and application techniques, and, through this technology, they could even find the fingerprints of the apprentices who applied the primer by hand. How incredible is that??
Should you feel simply too comfortable in your central AC (no one is blaming you for that), there is a wealth of inspiring supplemental information on the Frick’s website. Plus, the “multimedia presentations” are silent, so you could probably get away with watching at your desk. Fair warning though, 30 seconds of exploration on Google Art Project, will make you want to venture out to see this masterwork with your own eyes. It is that good.
Ease yourself slowly back into the reality of this oppressively hot summer in the city with an authentic Milano Panini from Via Quardronno. Enjoy the fresh ingredients and let your mind drift back to the extraordinary selection of flora in Bellini’s Italian landscape. Heaven on Earth!
Ingredients:
Ingredients:
Venue: The Frick Collection
Artist: Giovanni Bellini
Streets: E 70th St & 5th Ave
Eats: Via Quadronno
Map:
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