Henry Clay Frick (1849-1919) was a successful American businessman and one of the richest people of his time. However, for Frick himself, the greatest achievement of his life was his collection of art, which nowadays is considered to be one of the best private collections in the world. Born in a poor family, Frick knew that he would have to make his own way towards a better life. Frick’s hard work and perseverance helped him to prosper as an industrialist and a financier. 

      After making a fortune on a coke manufacturing company, Henry Frick was able to bring to life his interest in art. In 1905 Frick made the house at Seventieth Street and Fifth Avenue, today’s Frick Collection Museum, as his permanent residence. This time was the golden period of his collecting. Henry’s house is a treasury of art filled with the paintings of well-known artists such as Anthony Van Dyck, Joshua Reynolds, and Thomas Gainsborough. What distinguishes Frick’s collection of paintings is his personal connection to each art work that he acquired. After facing hardships during his life, such as the death of his two children that left incurable wound for the rest of his life, Frick found some peace in his collection. The paintings became his true and devoted friends as well as evidence of his exquisite taste.

      Anthony Van Dyck was among the Frick’s favorite artists. Henry Clay Frick collected Van Dyck’s drawings more than any other artists’ works and owned eight paintings from all periods of Van Dyck’s art. The exhibition Henry Frick: The Dialogue Between the Collector and the Art shows how Frick’s particularities in taste influenced the content of his collection, and also demonstrates the ability of paintings to echo the character of their owner as well as to tell a story about the collector’s life. We only need to look closely and we will see that the paintings serve as mirrors into Frick's life.