Cocktails with a Curator: Fragonard’s Progress of Love Series, Part Two

In this week’s episode of “Cocktails with a Curator,” Deputy Director and Peter Jay Sharp Chief Curator Xavier F. Salomon maps the century-long journey of Jean Honoré Fragonard’s Progress of Love series from Paris to Provence to London to New York. Fragonard’s career faltered because of his association with the ancien régime, and the Progress of Love was in many respects his last great accomplishment before he died in penury in 1806. In 2021, visitors will be able to experience three of the canvases for the first time in decades when the series is displayed in its entirety at Frick Madison. For today's episode, Xavier has paired this fourteen-canvas parable of love with a mixed drink suitable for the occasion, a brandy-spiked Champagne Cocktail.
To view these objects in detail, please visit our website: www.frick.org/progresslove

[@frickcollection]

FEATURED COCKTAIL: Champagne Cocktail (champagne, brandy, sugar, Angostura bitters, maraschino cherry); the mocktail is ginger ale and grapefruit juice. For the complete recipes, visit frick.org/cocktails-curator.

[@AliceAcronom]

The Gala sounds fascinating - but with 5 hours difference in London it'll be late on a 'school night'!

[@ljjdcm]

Thank you for doing these -They have blessed me today.

[@kurtk6592]

In storage, you say? What else have you been hiding? Now I must visit the Frick Madison!

[@adagietto2523]

The hollyhocks are so lovely, they really need to be on display!

[@elenaoldgirl6616]

Thank you! The context means so much for artworks’ appreciation.

[@darrendazcox]

I can actually paint close to the epicness of Fragonard at this point (30 years studying to become more epic than Tiepolo) - anyone want these type of paintings on their walls? I'm not part of the art world just a craftsman who learned how to master the classical tradition so there will be no investment value, it may take me years of getting sweaty in your mansion or Hong Kong apartment for me to finish it and your female friends will distract me often to scandalous results but i can guarantee the art will be an epic as Fragonard and it will be the most glorious room in town!

[@clairekhalil3222]

So beautiful and so sad. ....Thank God we have the Frick alive and well in NYC. I look forward to see the hollyhocks.

[@mjsinkoff]

A brilliant series! Thank you so much. This two-part discussion by Xavier Salomon of the Fragonard paintings is moving, funny, insightful and fascinating in equal measure. Salomon is wonderful! Thank you again!

[@Leebearify]

Oh my ! That ended so quickly !! Love this series, just love it. Thank you so much Dr. Salomon !

[@meggallucci5300]

The history of these lively, joyous paintings is tinged with sadness. Tristesse. I love these paintings by Fragonard and look forward to seeing them again. I have never noticed the long painting of hollyhocks, previously obscured by the door. So looking forward to viewing them All in future.

[@candiceclousegarretson9638]

Thank you so much for this lovely series. I've enjoyed it so much.

[@carolabruzzo4935]

Hollyhocks, I cannot wait to see! I appreciate how Xavier notices all: even the smaller less pronounced details. Within the detail, there finds beauty. Bravissimo Xavier 🎨

[@lorimcgowan1880]

Patiently waiting in Piedmonte!!!! Wonderful Friday night treat. Thank you Frick Collection.

[@ruthallison4779]

Thank you so much. Such wonderful story telling and glorious paintings.

[@JTonson]

So glad to hear that it might be possible to recreate the original sequence - how wonderful that would be!

[@geolloyd1351]

really great job by curator to narrate such an incredible story , that I was riveted to watch both videos .

[@miguelvelasco8173]

That was BEAUTIFUL, Xavier. 🙌🏻

[@raplicone6695]

THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH from Russia with LOVE! ✨❤️✨ ✨💧✨

[@beverlyfletcher4458]

What an amazing collection. Let's hope they can be displayed together, as intended, in the new setting. Thank you.

[@celiasantosmedeiros1283]

Thanks for these amazing lectures of art and history ! Best regards 🤗

[@pchabanowich]

Ah. The classic Champagne Cocktail! Long ago, I recall a line-up of them one Sunday Brunch when I played piano at a magical restaurant in Vancouver. Different from sipping, I assure you, at that time. Luckily, I’m able to enjoy one and marvel at that splash of celebration. Brilliant choice, dear fellow. The hollyhocks are sublime. How can one have a favourite blossom? And yet... glorious towers of deep beauty, so avidly and lovingly painted by that dear artist who knew decline yet still gifted the world with these beauties. Thank you, again, tour-master and avuncular daemon! Your sartorial choice is stunning, too, though it is not surprising.🙏❣️

[@faceless_woman]

My very favorite part of the Frick Museum!

[@lucanardecchia2859]

Very interesting. Grazie!

[@Weesperbuurt]

Thank you so much! So interesting. I really appreciate your research and knowledge.

[@ogieogie]

Wonderful storytelling!

[@rgt7703]

Hello from Ottawa, Canada

[@susprime7018]

Thank you.

[@lindabarry7867]

If Sargent’s Dr. Pozzi was alive today, he would dress like O.F.S. Both gorgeous.

[@susprime7018]

Hollyhocks look like a precursor to impressionism.

[@darrendazcox]

well said - if you look close you can see that Fragonard often made quite wide gestural strokes with the brush - that takes dexterity and skill to pull off - the efficiency is admirable, the results undeniable but the subject matter is what makes our experience in this mortal world worth living!

[@PeterPaul175]

Put them back in the original room in Grasse!

[@tahiragibson6407]

PeterPaul175 - yes, make sure that the fewest number of people can view them! Besides, in case you weren’t paying attention, the original “original” room was elsewhere.

[@charlie88wilson]

Need lovely 😍💋 💝💖❤️