Cocktails with a Curator: Murillo's Self-Portrait

In this week’s episode of “Cocktails with a Curator,” delve into the life and times of Bartolomé Esteban Murillo, one of the most celebrated painters of seventeenth-century Spain. Look closely at his self-portrait for clues about the Seville-born artist-a trompe l’oeil stone frame points to his fascination with the antiquities excavated in his hometown, and the sitter seems to be looking forward, into the future, after surviving a traumatic period when Seville was ravaged by plague. Acquired by Henry Clay Frick in 1904, the painting stayed with the family until 2014, when it was gifted to the museum by Dr. and Mrs. Henry Clay Frick II. This week’s complementary cocktail, the Rebujito, conjures the warm spring days of Seville's Feria de Abril (April Fair) and goes well with Thanksgiving leftovers.
To view this painting in detail, please visit our website: www.frick.org/murilloportrait

[@splodge5714]

I went to the Murillo exhibition in in London and enjoyed looking at his wonderful paintings including the two self portraits. Thank you for allowing this to happen.

[@alixnicoll6280]

How boring Fridays would be without this wonderful and informative time with "The Frick" - it makes the end of the week a real treat - so many thanks from one who is so far away but feels such an affinity for the collection with these insights.

[@melitathorpe8982]

Cocktails with the Curator drove me straight to the Frick Madison on my visit to New York in September. What a great museum and I will return again. Sill wish we had our Curators back on Fridays.

[@lucanardecchia2859]

These lessons have been a light in this dark period. Thank you from Rome, Italy.

[@lyudmilagrigoryeva4682]

I became a big fan of this curator, looking forward his new videos. Finally i have found the lectures of art that i am , non-english-speaking person, able to understand. I enjoy it. Mister Salomon made me love art and encoureges to study English. Thank you!

[@ritabiro5105]

Dear Mr.Salamon l am very glad to see again about my favorite painters Murillo.If l had the opportunity to visit your collection i 2018 l would have done.But never minde I am compensated in this way also.Among 15 portraits this large canvas must really the best selfportrait painted in Madrid.Seville with the most ancient ruins from the Roman Empire with the painting Young boy as a good shepeared is brilliant. The retauration work done by Dorothy Mail from Metropolitan Museum is also a great help.The immaculate perception work is a great value.The epidemy that time and sorrily also nowdays must bee survived for everybody.I wish you all the best and thanks

[@robertmeadows-rogers6863]

Always informative... always inspirational and grounding... always appreciated! We are thankful to Xavier, Aimee, and the Frick staff for the strength they have offered us to soldier through this pandemic. Art can do that for us.... through paints on a support and through the supportive enthusiasm of enlightened and compassionate curators. You people are the best! Thank you!

[@katherineyoun7524]

As always, its wonderful! Have been watching every Friday and look forward each week, it has been great cultural oasis during this most difficult time! Bravo!

[@fcanonicus7044]

One of art history's greats, although so underrated when compared to Velasquez , who may be considered the greater Spanish painter. Murillo's paintings, however, are so easy on the eye, and along with Raphael, his Madonnas are to die for. His painting of the Return of the Prodigal Son, also stands up well alongside Rembrandt's version. I'm so happy the Frick acquired this beautiful portrait of this very fine painter. Wonderful talk, thank you.

[@MrZohreh100]

thank you so much I hope one day I can see these beautiful portraits up close.

[@Mrbriankeeler]

Thanks so much for this wonderful presentation- bringing to the fore these beautiful works.

[@dawnjackson1802]

Thank you for another fabulous Friday discussion. Elizabeth 🇨🇦

[@Johnmartin-vz7yc]

I live in Dublin, Ireland. Saturday morning would not be the same without my Frick fix. Thank you so much!!

[@kurtk6592]

Thank you for providing hope each week!

[@lindaunger324]

This is my favorite pandemic escape. Absolutely wonderful. Thank you from Texas. I'll head over to the Kimball and check out the Murillo in their collection when the coast is clear.

[@AnnaMagnani71]

Buongiorno. Grazie per questi adorabili aperitivi ! Mi piacerebbe parlaste, in un prossima puntata, della tela di Georges De La Tour, Educazione della Vergine, 1650 circa. Grazie mille. Federica (Modena, Italia)

[@belkisherrera2807]

Another great episode!! Great to know more about Murillo. Looking forward to visiting the Frick to enjoy it anew with all those great insights from Xavier and Aimee. Thanks a lot!

[@scooby3092]

Frickin fricks your fantasies will never be quenched YOU FRICKIN FRICKS!!!

[@samoinborut1339]

Watching you from Slovenia. Thank you so much.

[@francescadeimel7394]

good morning from U.S.A.

[@frickcollection]

FEATURED COCKTAIL: Rebujito (Manzanilla, sparkling lemonade, sugar, mint); the mocktail is sparkling lemonade with mint. For the complete recipes, visit www.frick.org/cocktails-curator.

[@andrewsalmon100]

Murillo. Genre painting. Woohoo! Nice.

I can't believe I lived two years in NYC and never went to the Frick. 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

[@ritabiro5105]

It was very interestin for mee as I like very much Murillos paintigs in Fine Arts Muzeum in Budapest etc.I have some books and from Munich Oxfram shop 3 painted plates with children eating grapes as I lived there with my sisters 5 children there.After all thenks again try once a glass of hungarian Tokai wine for this year to bee heapier life for mankind.I have a small holy family picture from Italy Torino hanging in my room with Papst photo.Arrideverci to all of you.

[@lindabarry7867]

Very nice lecture! I would love to know what X.F. S. thinks about the idea all painting is autobiographical?

[@LL-ye5tz]

I see a version of Murillo's self portrait on the shelf behind Xavier, along with an engraving (?) of Andrea Sacchi's "Marcantonio Pasqualini Crowned by Apollo". Obviously he really liked Murillo very much.

[@warrenkundis3289]

That engraved portrait of Murillo over Xaiver's left shoulder always catches my eye. The other work appears to be to be in red chalk or is that a stipple engraving in red ink. LL I'm impressed with your knowledge. Great lecture as always, thank you.

[@julianlevy8212]

Great lecture! I love this series. I do, however, have one small favor to ask. Would you please post the recipes for your cocktails? It would help we mere mortals. ;-)

[@castadivanorma8478]

I found them all.they are listed

[@susprime7018]

Seville, you could just drink orange juice. I remember seeing a statue of Murillo and a museum of his works. Pilate's House, lots of classical statuary remnants, must have been out of season, had the place to ourselves, thanks for the memories.