The Frick Gallery Renovations Continue with Two Major Fall Projects

Over the past four years, The Frick Collection has renovated its galleries and public spaces through a succession of critically acclaimed initiatives. Availing itself of advances in lighting technology, the Frick has improved dramatically the illumination of its paintings, sculpture, and decorative arts.

Following a three-month closure, the Boucher Room recently reopened to the public, having been refurbished and relit, the first such extensive treatment of this jewelbox of a gallery in almost thirty years. The long West Gallery-home to masterpieces by Rembrandt, Hals, Turner, and Vermeer, as well as Renaissance bronzes and furniture and considered by many to be the centerpiece of the museum-is undergoing the first substantial relighting since the Frick opened to the public seventy-five years ago.

While an upgrade of existing auxiliary lights occurred more than twenty years ago in this gallery, the 2010 project relies on a new custom system and represents a major rethinking of the illumination of the room and the collections shown there. The first stage of the West Gallery relighting was implemented over the past four weeks. It focused on the paintings around the room and was presented to guests on the night of the annual Autumn Dinner on October 18. The Second Stage-the lighting of sculpture and other objects in the room-will be completed in late November. Funded by Trustee Stephen A. Schwarzman, the project was coordinated by Conservator Joseph Godla, whose team included members of the curatorial and engineering departments of the Frick and lighting designer Anita Jorgensen.

Comments Director Anne L. Poulet, "The experience of looking at art at The Frick Collection is intimately tied to the quality of the setting. In some sense, this remarkable mansion is the largest object in our care. We have sought to maintain and improve the landmarked structure through a program of gallery renovations, with attention to painted and marble surfaces, wall coverings, windows, and floors, while also keeping abreast of advances in lighting technology. With each initiative we have had the opportunity to rethink our presentation in subtle but important ways. We have gained fresh perspectives on the Collection and are pleased to share the latest results with our visitors."

Adds Conservator Joseph Godla, "This has been an exciting pr ocess. With each completedroom, we've encountered different challenges and have gained over time a rich body of insights about how to approach subsequent projects. We've undertaken the refurbishments only after selecting techniques that allow us to achieve our goals unobtrusively. If the public is unaware of these major changes but is now able enjoying the Collection more, then we will have succeeded."