Cocktails with a Curator: Paolo Veneziano's "Coronation of the Virgin"

In this week’s episode of “Cocktails with a Curator,” explore Paolo Veneziano’s “Coronation of the Virgin” with Deputy Director and Peter Jay Sharp Chief Curator Xavier F. Salomon. This magnificent panel-the most important work by the14th-century Venetian outside Europe-presents the Virgin and Christ in sumptuous garments and a choir of angels playing portable organs, lutes, trumpets, tambourines, and other instruments. At Frick Madison, the panel is displayed in a room dedicated to “gold grounds,” early Italian religious paintings that deploy precious materials to evoke the divine. In recognition of Paolo's use of gold and silver, this week’s complementary cocktail is the Mint Julep, traditionally drunk in a silver cup.
To view this painting in detail, please visit our website: www.frick.org/venezianocorona...

[@frickcollection]

FEATURED COCKTAIL: Mint Julep (bourbon, water, brown sugar, and crushed mint leaves, served on ice and garnished with mint); the mocktail is mint leaves, ginger ale, and sugar, served on ice. For the complete recipes, visit www.frick.org/cocktails-curator For more information on Frick Madison and to purchase tickets, visit: www.frick.org/madison-tickets Get the Frick at your fingertips. Join our email list for art, events, and museum and library news straight to your inbox. Sign up: thefrick.org/enews Donate Today: www.frick.org/annual-fund

[@kphg5181]

888

[@pchabanowich]

The sartorial elegance to which Xavier draws our attention in Veneziano’s paintings are resplendently honoured by himself, a grace rare and substantial.💐

[@bernadettepowelltonyhowlet1717]

Another wonderful evening with a sunset ray of Xavier!

[@dweeb99]

Our guide Xavier takes us yet again to another world, this time in a dazzling chartreuse robe! How odd this style of painting can be. But on visits to Siena and Assisi, when I lived in Italy as a teenager (thanks to your tax dollars, paying my father's US Army officer's salary), I grasped the meaning of those paintings. The quality of the rendering, the metaphor of color, the vivid architecture - there's a LOT to look at in every one of Veneziano's works. What a miracle to revisit online, a glass of wine at hand! I hope this series never ends!

[@amatteroflogic]

Chartreuse is actually more yellow-y , his robe is leaf green. Aside from that, thanks for sharing your anecdote. I love Italian paintings too 😊

[@lindahart6049]

I love his robes, although I call them dressing gowns! What style!

[@deanedge5988]

I must admit I tuned in as much to hear the repeated pronunciation of Paolo Veneziano as the enunciation of the work. Its a great series and has often been for me a beacon of light and civilisation in the darker days of our endless European lockdown.

[@susprime7018]

@@amatteroflogic My Mom had a ceiling painted chartreuse in the nineteen-fifties, the walls were painted sandalwood color. Those lasted a couple of years. Xavier is delightful regardless of costume, but I appreciate the costume changes.

[@lynnetopping9608]

@@amatteroflogic Excusez-moi! There exists both yellow and green Chartreuse.

[@mbtvalli]

Excellent and fascinating. Thanks.

[@galleryguide9913]

It is interesting to think of how these works would have functioned within their original contexts particularly with the interactions of the painted textiles with the real ones such as carpets that would have been spread in front of the altar and the rich frontal that would have decorated the front of the altar along with the vestments of the officiating clergy as the surrounding candle light would have reacted with the various textures and surfaces.

[@Leebearify]

It is hard to believe that these churches allowed these works of art to be separated. There must have been a lot of arguments and disagreements around the entire subject when someone suggested it.

[@galleryguide9913]

@@Leebearify You would think that that's what would be the case, but sometimes when changes in taste or ecclesiastical reform movements take place it is amazing at the speed to which church furnishings can be swept away. The Council of Trent thought that the sanctuary of churches should be more visible so the Rood screen in most churches were removed and the altars and their associated artworks were swept away when the structures were dismantled. We need look no further that Vatican II in our time where vast amounts of art and church furnishings were removed or painted over.

[@beverlyfletcher4458]

Yes, and aren't we blessed to have the scholarship that ties all these elements together.

[@jeanmensing]

This is a very important commentary on Paolo Veneziano's creations. If only could go deeper.

[@Leebearify]

How unbelievable, I was just reading about this in "Piero Della Francesca and the Invention of the Artist" by Machtelt Bruggen Israels last night. Such a wonderful book and recommended by Guilio in one of these lectures. It is on Amazon if anyone is interested and is one of the Renaissance Lives series.

[@beverlyfletcher4458]

Grazie!

[@sandie157]

Ta for the reccomendation 💖

[@ritabiro5105]

Dear Mr Salamon as I remeber l have heared about the Coronation of Virgin Mary but l am gled to see again in more deraled history of art.As l visited short once the Hohenzollers castle I havent noticed every beauties and of course going back to Venice and Sanseverino and.the small chapell Gloriso must have been a great trip ariving the Coronation of Virgin Mary.with Criste in Frick collection.Beautiful and admirable work.Thanks again

[@dawnjackson1802]

An amazing, enjoyable discussion and education. 🇨🇦

[@lucanardecchia2859]

Thank you for this very interesting lesson. Saluti dall'Italia.

[@kishdanilo]

The static, highly decorsted Byzantine representations of the Holy Family and saints inform Venetian School in a unique way. Colors are stunning! I appreciate the focus on the gold, and moon and sun symbolism.

[@janetthomas8244]

Just wonderful. Thank you Xavier. Can"t wait to get to Frick Madison.

[@marcellalanger2430]

❤❤❤

[@LindaLinda80Linda]

Pimm’s Cup also delicious and served in a pewter mug with a slice of cucumber. If you are ever in London the bar at the Cumberland Hotel makes a great one.

[@paulabarr6308]

thank you and the installation @ Frick Madison is truly magnificent!!

[@Whoiskevinjones]

Xavier, Could you please do a video on Peter Jay Sharp? I would enjoy hearing about his life, his collecting, his interest in curatorship and his foundation's decision to endow a chair at the Frick Collection. He would be honored to know someone as esteemed as you held that position and is contributing to sharing your knowledge with us! Sincerely, Kevin Jones (Denver, Colorado)

[@sharonjenkins-owen5708]

Very interesting. Thank you

[@ritabiro5105]

Thanks to Mr.Salamon about Coronation of Virgin Marys Alterpiece.It is pity that the panel is divided from the piece in San Severino but in that way may bee more precious work from Paulo Veronese.Anyway as you mentoned his works are also on the twoo sides of Adriatic see and so this polyptic is on two different places to be seen.I missed your yesteray evening your drink as l have found Prof Pauluccis guideline on my mobile what l am using for getting more and more details and able to see also from this long distance as having no money for trips and anyway would bee difficult because dangeure of covid inpite of having gotten already th vacina.For all of you wish health and sucess Fricks collection save you Mary as well.

[@pegnorth2818]

Wonderful, thank you

[@luciemedici]

Yeah Xavier 👍🌹

[@beverlyfletcher4458]

Xavier Salomon - this man is the absolute master of the discussion and explanation of art in it's myriad forms. What a piece to choose and how extraordinary Frick came to own it. In addition, for me it's the pronunciation of all these names I've read over the years and have no idea how to pronounce - 'Hohenzollen, Marche, etc; what a polyglot! How I long to get to the Frick, so please don't close again before I get there. Thank you so very much.

[@susanhepburn6040]

Thank you very much for this most interesting video.

[@marieanneaffre1802]

💖👌Thank you so much..😍💖

[@joannasalvohappyfridaynewp2227]

Another wonderful lecture via "Cocktails with a Curator", I'll be in NYC & the Frick Madison in 2 wks

[@Leebearify]

I am so jealous. WOW

[@karenprowda408]

hello from Binghamton!

[@bifeldman]

Riveting chat.

[@pafig333]

The placement of work diminishes the importance of the work ... especially with the convoluted justification of the presence of the carpet.. the works looks just like another ‘framing’’ element for the carpet in the view provided.