Cocktails with a Curator: Van Dyck's "Sir John Suckling"

In this episode of "Cocktails with a Curator," Xavier F. Salomon, Peter Jay Sharp Chief Curator, tells us the story of Sir John Suckling, the subject of Anthony van Dyck's full-length portrait in The Frick Collection. Xavier has appropriately paired his story of art and literature with an English cocktail called Pink Gin.
To see this painting in detail, please visit our website: collections.frick.org/objects...

[@angusmcmillan8981]

I’ve only just discovered this series and am now devouring the episodes. What an entertaining and erudite storyteller you are, Mr Salomon, thanks so much.

[@cindyoverall8139]

Ahhhh... so nice to listen to a brilliant, but humble connoisseur. Hope for our species.

[@toffthe]

This series is so rewarding, thank you.

[@jeanneclark99]

VERY interesting and informative--I like this whole series. Just one thing: The Restoration was with Charles II, not James II. James was Charles's brother and the one who succeeded him.

[@dottiejeffries939]

Another enriching "Cocktails with a Curator." Much as I love the Frick, these episodes take me on explorations I would not have done otherwise. I'm also learning about drinks such as the Pink Gin and the history of Plymouth gin as one example. Thank you again. Your commentary is superb.

[@jessiecurtis4422]

The Frick Museum has been in my life since I was in my teens -- thank you for the "Cocktails with a Curator" series, a lovely (re)treat from staying in.

[@MrNikonova]

What a delightful cocktail of gin and bitter, art and literature, past and present -- food for body, mind and soul. Thank you.

[@michaelbaenen2388]

I cannot thank Xavier Salomon and his colleagues enough for this wonderful series. What a wonderful way to begin the weekend and to be reminded both of the pleasures that await us in future-when we can go to the Frick, or the Morgan, or...-and of what we can do now to cope.

[@leannatimmerman9922]

Delightful and enriching. Thank you.

[@dawnjackson1802]

Wonderful discussion, thank you! Elizabeth 🇨🇦

[@rossini103]

Thank you, it's so nice to have this cocktails with a Curator. Love that museum.

[@dominicprimato2438]

I do hope you will continue offering Cocktails at the Frick once we are passed the present "dilemma"

[@rc93013]

I’ve introduced this series to other family friends and they are loving it, too...thank you!

[@carolabruzzo4935]

I’m enjoying Cocktails with a Curator so much. And so on point helping us cope with quarantine and yet enriching our minds with thought, literature and beautiful beautiful art. The cocktail suggestions a are superb touch!!!!

[@dahlcapello8796]

i'm in Nevada watching frick lectures; love this! Thank you for doing these; next up is Ca'd'Oro venice

[@kayleenlewis4229]

wonderful way to start our weekend of sheltering in place in Monterey California! I've always wondered what the lives of the people in these grand portraits were really like~clearly as the saying goes, "All that glitters is not gold" Your presentation is so well done! Thanks for all your efforts on our behalf!

[@gustavderkits8433]

Thanks for this curative moment. I look forward to the time I can visit again the Frick Collection. This series has, with humor and scholarship, enriched each of the works it discusses. Keep going!

[@ritabiro5105]

Sad but god painting and valuable writting.Thanks for telling l like your pronanciation Mr.Salamon

[@walterbrown1579]

Outstanding!!

[@jackiec9853]

I just finished Sharon Kay Penman's "The Sunne in Splendour" about Richard III, and am now reading about the search for his remains and re-burial with dignity, as well as studying his two portraits.

[@miltonsherman7086]

Wonderful context brought this great portrait to life.

[@petahagan1782]

Please keep this up after lock down. We are a group all round Australia that love this ritual on Saturday evenings. We have all been to the Frick and love it. Peta

[@irenelofstrom1270]

This series is such a gift.

[@lucaspatrickjones87]

yea! thanks for doing this - this is great!

[@vernetify]

What a joy ! Beautifully presented, so interesting and enjoyable. I hope you present many more, and I will definitely visit the Frick again when next in New York. Best wishes from Texas

[@fredericolourenco1972]

Thank you, Xavier F. Salomon, for these amazing videos, which I am following with utter delight from Coimbra, Portugal!

[@aidanharper1072]

Thank you so much for organizing this!

[@pchabanowich]

I’ve already confessed to unabashedly loving you and the elegance of your presentations. I’m so in.

[@warrenburddleson2984]

EdwardIII is by Shakespeare, and is not in the FF as you say, but the play missing which constitutes the 37th play of Shakespeare's not in the FF is Pericles, Prince of Tyre. another play by Shakespeare not included is Two Noble Gentlemen. and of course, some argue there are more.

[@kirstenlindsaybohme9752]

LOVE this series!!! Thanks, Frick Museum!!!

[@lesleyg.8976]

Lovely! Thank you so much for keeping us connected to The Frick in this way!

[@rondifrankel]

Thank you so much for this series! A true delight!

[@MrDan5702]

Thank you! ... I'm really enjoying Cocktails With a Curator!

[@beverlyfletcher4458]

Wonder what happened to his First Folio...? Fascinating talk, thank you.

[@johntuffin3262]

Thank you for such a thoughtful programme and for the encouragement. Less consequentially, I have noticed your curators always use beautiful glasses for their cocktails. I would also love to have a library like Xavier’s

[@blainemason8218]

This is the second episode I’ve watched so far. Both are brilliant and I’m looking forward to watching more. Thank you!

[@kolobrzeg091]

Absolutely... THANK YOU !!!

[@lindsayli2438]

Thank you so much. I cannot tell you how much I enjoy these episodes. "Conceit, more rich in matter than in words/brags of his substance, not of ornament . . ."

[@catherinetriplett5584]

Love!!! Thank you, looking forward to next weeks edition! 👏🏻😍👏🏻🍸

[@lorettabertoli3736]

thank you so much for this! I love Van Dyck and one of my all time favourite exhibitions is one of his works that was here in Milan about 15 years ago. as much as I'd like to get back to usual life I have to say I actually don't mind some things of this forced quarantine. I've actually had time to throw away things I don't need (or don't give me joy à la Marie Kondo), reorganizing stuff and books, watching loads of museums youtube channel such as this one and reading books I normally wouldn't have time to read such as the Count of Monte Cristo, so there's a silver lining to everything I guess. Stay safe and greetings from Italy x

[@melitathorpe8982]

Brillant. Here from San Jose, CA, Chief Curator Sharp, you brought light into my day. Enjoying these Fridays with the Frick.

[@sandraeugeni7606]

These lectures are more than interesting. Thanks for doing this. Looking forward to the next!

[@henryengler7158]

Wonderful. What a terrific illumination of art, poetry and history. Thank you for doing this and shall look forward to your future installments. Cheers!

[@carogeorge055]

Thank you for this!

[@maureenserafini1949]

I am so enjoying you and your thoughts! giving us great backgrounds on these paintings! And, oh the fun cocktails..yum.

[@jamietucker9928]

Thank you so much. Great connection that VanDyck was quarantined also, brings new meaning to this piece and artist. Looking forward to this Friday's.

[@moot9798]

Thank you! I’ll come back for more!

[@mariadiez1440]

Great content!!!!!!!!! So happy I came across these

[@LutheranLiarNYC]

Fabulous as always. Three for three! Now I have to get back to my book

[@margaretnightingale2432]

Awesome...thank you from Toronto, Canada

[@miguelangel-qr1lq]

Xavier thank you very much from Spain.Nice history.

[@teresafbrooks]

Thank you. When I next see this wonderful portrait, it will be more meaningful and relevant because of your remarks.

[@graceofriel1263]

Thank you! I learned something new!

[@criscavi19]

I love your explanation of paintings under your custody. Thanks for this interesting videos! please, please, do more or it!

[@larissafriedenberg]

Thank you. Nice to visit The Frick.

[@barbarajohnson1442]

Beautiful!!!

[@danielbuttafuoco7928]

I applaud what you are doing, Xavier. I am enjoying this.

[@d.e.levine5008]

Hi from down the street from The Frick. So happy you're keeping in touch with yor members

[@nancycoleman5673]

‘

[@maureenserafini1949]

Oh wow, how lucky!

[@kellycunningham5316]

Enjoying every moment of the Cocktails with a Curator series. Thank you so much for sharing.

[@galleryguide9913]

Thoroughly enriching.

[@pieterwolt1245]

wonderful,great work

[@pearlshifer1776]

your reading of the soliloquy gave me the chills

[@tomditto3972]

Allow me to bring to your attention the detailed analysis of the Van Dyck portrait of John Suckling published today by Alexander Waugh. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rniVgGx3Z694lbM Whether you agree or not with hidden meanings Waugh postulates, you cannot deny that he has ferreted out an interesting error on the title page of Hamlet. In the First Folio the title page appears facing the one Van Dyck depicted. Waugh also remarks on the contradiction between the Latin inscription that seemingly means "Do not look outside yourself," when John Suckling has chosen to look quite far outside himself in theater to the Bard. Suckling was famous for his talent at cards and the curious intellect for numbers and sleights of hand that go with this talent. Waugh has taken this to heart by analyzing the Latin inscription for a hidden meaning that resolves the seeming contradiction between its surface meaning and a deeper one. Waugh goes on to see spiritual imagery in what he calls a Delphic rock, and he invites us to visit the Frick for the experience of having the level of detail that a KZbin video cannot provide. What we can see from the reproduction on KZbin is that unlike the other pair of portraits, Suckling is not looking at us but to the side. What is he looking at? Waugh has an interesting suggestion.

[@leannatimmerman9922]

Thanks. Good reference.

[@ottarsdatter]

Foreigner from Vermont here. So grateful for Mr. Salomon's thoughtful commentary on a portrait I would otherwise have floated by, eyes fixed in glazed appreciation. Friends have been going on and on about finally reading War and Peace--yada yada--undoubtedly something I should add to my resumé, but you reminded me that it's been a long time since I read Shakespeare and perhaps it's time to reread, alongside the shade of Sir John Suckling.

[@ottarsdatter]

Also--no lie--Pink Gin!

[@johnmccann373]

I look forward to these illuminating "Cocktails with a Curator" is a wonderful, educational substitute to watching the endless news. Thank you Xavier Salomon, for your warmth and erudite presentations.

[@candacegrover8897]

Cheers! Savannah, Ga.

[@shirleymaccara2002]

Thanks very much!

[@barbaraefchak5291]

Thank you

[@docmccoy95]

Thank you.

[@johnbambridge4434]

Cheers. Fun lecture.

[@alanmerkel6957]

Alan Merkel this is a very informative and well presented talk., which I have watched from London.

[@johns.9819]

this was great

[@lindabarry7867]

Plague was a part of Shakespeare’s time and the theaters were closed. He used this time to write King Lear.

[@bahhumbug9824]

Also in quarantine during a plague, Isaac Newton discovered differential and integral calculus, formulated a theory of universal gravitation, and explored optics, experimenting with prisms and investigating light. During this quarantine, well, let's just say times have changed.

[@alexandrakimball9321]

I enjoyed watching the unfolding connections. But surely the restored monarch was not James II but Charles II?

[@jamesallison4875]

I miss the lockdown times so much. Of course many people suffered and died, but life in general was so much more peaceful and slow paced. Oh well… everything changes

[@tomson70]

🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@joanlufrano3047]

Another UWSider checking in

[@reversefulfillment9189]

Surprising no mention of Sir Sucklings invention of the still popular card game of cribbage.

[@nielsnielsen6]

I didn't realize there was such full-blown Romanticism just a generation after Shakespeare

[@wordscaninspire114]

My favourite soliloquy 'To be or not to be', (after which 'Oh that this too, too solid flesh...') In this painting you discuss here, I always feel I see the ghost of Ophelia lying as she would have drowned in the water... can anyone else see the darkened face in the white cloak hood? Maybe it's irrelevant or I'm making too much of it.

[@MrMartibobs]

Wonderful. I loved this. The only downside is that it makes me realise how very stupid and ignorant I am.

[@jamesridewood4118]

Dear Xavier, the king who is initially associated with Restoration (1660)was Charles II, James II was his borther woh fled England in 1688, the bloodless revolution bringing about the end of his reign

[@cattracks9100]

Ulysses, trying to read Ulysses, trying...

[@TMPreRaff]

Awkwardly verbose.