NEW YORK, NY.- Based on the critically acclaimed video series of the same name, the new publication Cocktails with a Curator presents engaging histories of works of art at
The Frick Collection paired with creatively inspired drinks. The book, to be released in the fall of 2022, offers a crash course in art history and a delightful introduction to the treasures of the esteemed New York museum.
A Webby Award honoree (the “Oscars of the Internet”), the Frick’s weekly YouTube program began as a means to stay connected with the public during the pandemic shutdown. It quickly became a global phenomenon, much talked about within and beyond the art world, accumulating more than 1.8 million views over some sixty-five thought-provoking and varied episodes. Each video, and correspondingly each chapter of the book, presents a fresh take on a highlight from the permanent collection, with personal and timely perspectives offered by the Frick’s dynamic curatorial team.
Paintings, sculpture, furniture, and porcelain—from the Middle Ages into the early twentieth century—are discussed for their exemplary features and fascinating backstories. Cocktails, with recipes, are thematically paired with the works: a Jaded Countess (absinthe, vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup) with Ingres’s portrait Comtesse d’Haussonville; a classic Pimm’s Cup with Gainsborough’s depiction of English beauty Grace Dalrymple Elliott; and a Bloody Mary (named after the last Catholic regnant queen of England) with Holbein’s painting of Sir Thomas More, who opposed the Reformation of Mary’s father, Henry VIII. The perfect addition to any art connoisseur’s library, Cocktails with a Curator is a witty and intoxicating way to enjoy the treasures of a world-renowned art collection.
The publication’s chapters are authored by members of the Frick’s curatorial department: Xavier F. Salomon, Deputy Director and Peter Jay Sharp Chief Curator; Curator Aimee Ng; and Giulio Dalvit, Assistant Curator of Sculpture. The book also includes an introduction by Simon Schama, art historian, professor, and documentarian, and illustrations are provided by Luis Serrano, an artist commissioned to create a series of drawings based on the Frick’s featured masterpieces. The book’s preface is contributed by Ian Wardropper, Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Director. This publication is made possible by Virginia and Randall Barbato.
Comments Salomon, “The response to Cocktails has been remarkable, reinforcing our sense that discussions of art on digital platforms can be deeply restorative and successfully shared on a global scale. As we’ve expanded our online content beyond the series and welcomed visitors to Frick Madison—our temporary home during the renovation of our historic buildings—much of our public has remained vocal about the deep impact the videos had on them. We felt that capturing our commentaries in book form would allow the series to live on and to reach subsequent waves of culturally engaged audiences around the world.”
Cocktails with a Curator is published in the autumn of 2022 by The Frick Collection in association with Rizzoli Books. The hardcover volume of 272 pages has 256 color and black-and-white illustrations ($39.95, member price $31.96). It may be pre-ordered online through the Frick’s Museum Shop at frick.org/shop or by emailing sales@frick.org or calling 212.547.6849 (and it will be available for purchase on-site this fall).
