Frick Five, Xavier F. Salomon interviewed by Aimee Ng

[@carolabruzzo4935]

Xavier, you are a delight to behold. Grazie!

[@lesleeortega1482]

We’ve been loving Cocktails with a Curator, so seeing the more casual Xavier is 😍😍😍

[@jamesallison4875]

My attitude towards you has completely altered. You are so charming and intelligent instead of the slightly didactic and stiff attitude of your Frick talks. Be this friendly way always. Your intellect will shine through in any case. Bravo and viva Callas!

[@dawnjackson1802]

What a joy to have access to conversation at this level of sophistication. Grateful to observe others’ enjoyment and share with like-minded people in diversified locations. Elizabeth 🇨🇦

[@aedrourr]

Delightful! So much charm and intelligence.

[@margaretkaczorowski2215]

Also super impressed with your knowledge of Polish history!

[@Booka60]

Xavier's opinion I will always find fascinating. His POV, and the experiences he relates are always valuable.

[@janlivingston9839]

I didn't want this interview to ever end. He seems endlessly fascinating.

[@NicoleMaynard.Studio]

Love these guys! It's so cute and interesting to see such intelligent art specialists having fun together. 😊👏

[@joanwalters4741]

It was a terrific interview. I heard at a young age that I must read War And Peace every year. Which I did for a while, every summer. Now, I have a new destination!!! Just ordered my new book... thank you. ❤️. This interview could make the list for “repeat performances “.

[@pw9859]

With all due respect, Harrison Ford/Indiana Jones has nothing on Xavier Salomon! The Frick Collection is blessed to have such a charming and cultivated curator.

[@allenpinnix5241]

Xavier is completely engaging, disarmingly charming-- delightful!

[@ariunism]

Really liked the conversation. Amazing knowledge and articulate talk. Thank you!

[@klaudiakolakoski362]

Finally! Xavier Frick Five🙌🏼 Agree with you on Maria Callas and Caravaggio.

[@thomastallerico6340]

An outgrowth of the pandemic was getting introduced to these two with Cocktails with the Curator.. From something bad came something good. So enjoyable.

[@ritabiro5105]

Mr.Salamon l am suprised about your selfportai.I apprisiate your taste and remarks about choise of favorites are really god in every aspects.I wish you succes in your carrier and life.Thanks again

[@Leebearify]

How absolutely wonderful! I love how these two people make one another smile and laugh and think. Thank you so very much for this !!

[@janawilliams4474]

Thank you. You are a lifeline, just as the bookmobile on a dirt road was for me growing up. Thank you.

[@margaretkaczorowski2215]

How did i miss this interview a year ago?!! What a delightful and fun interview. Such great insight into Xavier's life and interests.

[@mackjatt]

Thank you both!!!...we’ve enjoyed these videos from the Frick, one of our long time favorite museums...

[@donaldmangel4732]

This was such a lively and animated interview! Thank you for your personal insights.

[@ElizabethVC1]

Love this conversation! Love love Xavier. Aimee is right there with him, so well done.

[@swash333]

I could listen to you all day XFS. So relaxed and inspiring and just as beautiful as Indiana.

[@Mrbriankeeler]

Wonderful! How about a portrait of Xavier by a living portraitist- to keep the arts alive and thriving today!

[@janebrettell1737]

That was very enjoyable thank you and nice to know a little about Xavier. 🥰

[@alixnicoll6280]

What a treat - of course I am off to find the Hadrian book and also to revisit Indiana Jones! You two have taken me on so many travels and introduced me to so many exquisite treasures at the Frick and taught me so much - many thanks and please don't stop!

[@vincentbasquiat2501]

Two of my favorite people ! Can't wait to visit the Frick again!

[@Amc933]

Excellent. I just ordered the Memoirs of Hadrian-- I am also a major fan and have walked Hadrian's Wall Path as the best time of my life thus far. Also, who doesn't love La Callas? Thanks for this lead...

[@notanemoprog]

Fascinating interview. Amazing to see that there are people for whom Veronese - a glorified house decorator - is the favorite, so of course he is incapable of understanding Caravaggio. His appreciation of Donatello exculpates him somewhat tho

[@sandraeugeni7606]

What a wonderful episode! Both of you are just awesome

[@internationalartcentrefran4043]

Watching and enjoying SO much here in New Zealand, grazie mille 💕🎨💕

[@rebeccagonzalez2204]

You will NOT be disappointed with Egypt or its archaelogy, particularly Tutankamón's tomb. It took me about five years to be able to again appreciate my New World archaeology specialty after visiting Egypt.

[@Weesperbuurt]

Enjoyed that very much.

[@lorimcgowan1880]

Thank you for this insightful interview!

[@wanketta]

Lovely interview, thank you! I used to reread books about the Tudors, for many years. Ninja Turtles! You are a modern day Renaissance Man.

[@Intervain]

exciting to see appreciation of Sculpture and Malczewski, two things I love myself :)

[@pattersondsmccd]

That was great! Thanks!

[@markopopovic5326]

Thank you, Xavier and Aimee! It was higly entertaining, especially Xavier's rant about Caravaggio (still laughing …) But … a portrait not by Lucian Freud? *GASP!* :)

[@ritabiro5105]

Thank you mr.Xaver and Amy for introducing you and think you have a good taste.I whish you to bee able to visit Egypt also.Ihavent been thete although l like Nofretete and Thuthencamons tteasure as well l posses a head ofcource.You might find from Cairos radio a men Called " Adel " Somthing like that who visited my earlier home in Kecskemet.I knew.him from the Musik Institute. ANYWAY ITS A LONG TIME AGO.I WHISH YOU GOD BLESSED ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS TIME PEACFUL DAYS BUEK.

[@reneebarger5194]

Wonderful interview. I heartily agree that Donatello is underrated. His David makes you breathless! I would have loved to have my portrait painted by Jacques Louis David. Another artist who is totally unappreciated today.

[@hvanderf]

Brillant!

[@christopherstromee8162]

You make a great team. Thanks for sharing!

[@mariatiley1681]

So enjoyable to listen to two brilliant experts speaking on their passion for arts and culture. Mr Salomon you're a never ending "boîte à surprises"! Jacek Malczewski? You just took my breath away.

[@ariadne3838]

I wanted to be an archeologist too. Ariadne's story was my first myth. I also had a paperback called "Lost Cities" and I loved it. I have never been to Egypt but, I did see the treasures of Tutankhamun in New Orleans.

[@barbararaider9919]

Wonderful and so interesting interview. Thank you!!

[@helenchace1751]

Xavier and Aimee, what a delightful discussion on Frick Five! Xavier, I totally agree with your choices except for one: you should be painted by Moroni...PS I am on vacation living 3 blocks from Petite Plaisance, Madame Yourcenar's cozy home. H.C.Chace

[@margaretspain2127]

Enjoyed it!

[@annburchill4676]

My mother and aunt Alice travelled to the pyramids and holy land and rode a camel. They absolutely loved it so you must go and see it!

[@becharb]

fabulous such an interesting peak

[@ritabiro5105]

Thank you introducing yourself you have a god taste concerning Caravaggo I appreciate too much blood I saw a huge collection in Malta and his life was seriously scaring.I think Callas was one of the greatest singer l like her .I visited Pantheon also where the greatest personalities are buried like Raffaelo etc.I remember the son came from the top into the building strange feeling among them.

[@claudebousquet6996]

Merci, Mr Salomon! Grace à vous, je vais relire "Memoires d'Hadrien " de Yourcenar. Mais j'aurai beaucoup de peine à ne pas aimer le Caravage.

[@SusanLH]

Loving these interviews. You guys are so fun and thank you. :)

[@lorettabertoli3736]

wonderful video, Xavier is a delight as usual but....I am sorry I guess I am the only one (or one of the few prople) who hates "memoirs of Hadrian" with a passion... probably that's because I had to read it for an university exam but I just had to force myself to finish it... and gave it immediately back to the class compaion who lent it to me...about Caravaggio, I love his pictures, but Xavier is totally right, he's over hyped, there's so many other great painters deserving of attention. thanks again for the video and keep up the good work, greetings from Italy xxx

[@roniquebreauxjordan1302]

..just when you thought both were ultra serious..."Indiana Jones" 🎬🎥..never would have guessed. The Friday programs are really good to continue developing a real understanding of art....btw...Botticelli would be my "go to" portrait painter ...those scenes from "Medici" S2....#renaissance🎨

[@MrZohreh100]

I love you both

[@teddyofparis]

At last! Thanks a lot!!

[@kurtk6592]

Your first in-person "Cocktails with a Curator" now requires a fedora.

[@margaretrich5022]

What would you say, Xavier, about Donatello‘s sculpture of the figure of Habbakuk?

[@deanedge5988]

I promise you wont be disappointed. The pyramids are a bit disappointing because of their hideous modern surroundings but seeing the Tutanhkamum objects together (they're in the Museum of Antiquities) is beyond wonderful - the skill, beauty and exquisite Armana taste are incomparable and there is just so much of it.

[@janetthomas8244]

Very enjoyable. But I love Caravaggio's young Bacchus.

[@ANNAANNA-kt9nm]

Prima di tutto congratulazioni per il passaggio a Deputy Director! Io sono italiana, vivo in Italia,ho studiato e conosco ciò di cui Lei parla e ciò che ama, e forse per questo comprendo appieno ciò che Lei dice e ciò che Lei apprezza.Lei è persona di grande cultura e piacevolissima conversazione.AscoltarLa è sempre un arricchimento.Ancora una volta, grazie. PS: mi piacerebbe sapere che pensa Lei di Jeronymus Bosch e del suo Paradiso delle Delizie

[@robcoghan5204]

The David of Donatello is what holds back his reputation for me.

[@notanemoprog]

Which one, the marble or the bronze

[@robcoghan5204]

I have only seen the Bronze in Florence, I have worked hard to understand, but this piece was done in a Florentine context, I can’t get past the hat and the hip.

[@agostinorocco7430]

I. Love. This. Man.

[@cassielachat4901]

I onderstand your concern that actually seeing the Egyptian artifacts might be a disappointment. But my experience was that everything in Egypt was so much larger, so much grander than anything I could imagine. I've been to places where the "real thing" was disappointing, but Egypt was no disappointment.

[@marilulasagna1846]

Sempre interessante Riesci a stupire e intrattenere con eleganza Ti si perdona anche il commento su Caravaggio Però hai ragione Villa Barbaro a Maser é meravigliosa e se mai riuscirò a tornare nel mio bel paese ti dovrò ringraziare per avermela fatta riscoprire

[@juliosanchezbaroni6735]

También leo al menos una vez al año Memorias de Adriano, traducido al español por Julio Cortázar. No entiendí si Xavier lo leyó en inglés, porqué no leyó la traducción italiana?

[@susprime7018]

"I see wonderful things." It is amazing that Tutankhamun's wooden bed survived.

[@RaimoKangasniemi]

The bed of queen Hetepheres I from the 4th dynasty survived too, and its some 1100 years older than Tutankhamun's bed. They made them last for an eternity.. ;)

[@karinkopetzky6313]

@@RaimoKangasniemi Only the inlays of the bed survived. The wood was already gone when discovered.

[@bifeldman]

In the imaginary museum in my mind, the Caravaggio Bacchus hangs in my bedroom, just next to the Ecole de FontaInebleau Belle Gabriella d’Este and Her Sister. I think these paintings are sublime and gorgeous.

[@janebrettell1737]

At last yay....😍😍😍😍😍

[@meggallucci5300]

Very interesting. I cannot agree about Caravaggio. Perhaps that is because I don’t do much reading in art history since I got my M.A. Tsk Tsk. One of my favorite works of art is The Awakening of St. Paul in Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome in which the horse from which St. Paul fell is the primary star of the painting, and St. Paul appears, but you kind of have to look for him. Even the groom looms over the Saint. And that horse, not like Stubbs, but better (except for Whistle Jacket). So Saladin and I are at odds there. Otherwise, we are basically in agreement, especially about the Villa Barbaro and opera.

[@sunandmoon24]

Well, gee, this has only exacerbated my crush on Mr. Salomon. :)

[@Leebearify]

same here !!

[@pattersondsmccd]

@@Leebearify get in line! :-)

[@Mrrossj01]

The Museo Egizio is an archaeological museum in Turin, Piedmont, Italy, specialising in Egyptian archaeology and anthropology. It houses one of the largest collections of Egyptian antiquities, with more than 30,000 artefacts. This museum does not come with the infectious disease issues of a trip to Egypt. Please check with the CDC before going.

Infectious disease issues of going to Egypt? What kind of comment is that...

[@janetthomas8244]

@ I became ill in Egypt.

[@StanislavZimin]

Would love to follow Xavier's Instagram!

[@fortinbralothar82]

so heartwarming to have my dislike of caravaggio and appreciation of the genius of donatello voiced so passionately.

[@Mrrossj01]

The shelves go in one of the former granaries.

[@johns.9819]

van icke would do my portrait

[@beverlyfletcher4458]

Great fun. Think you're going to have to re-think the 'most overrated' (tsk, tsk!) but I still like you.

[@RaimoKangasniemi]

Saying that Hadrian was a gay man is transporting a 21st century concept of sexual identity to the 2nd century. It would have been hard to find an upper class male who preferred sexual relations with males and who would have been unmarried. Marriage was not, except in rare instances, for love and sexual pleasure foremost. Bisexual - although still a modern concept - would be a better term.

[@johns.9819]

but you are handsome xavier