1849 December 19

Henry Clay Frick is born

1871 

Frick establishes H. C. Frick & Company, coke manufacturing company

1880

Henry becomes a millionaire and makes his first trip to Europe

1881

Inspired by his trip to Europe, Henry brings to life his interest in art

This year Henry marries Adelaide Howard Childs

1885 August 9

Henry's belowed daughter Martha is born

1891 July 25

Martha Frick dies after a long illness

Her death affects Frick's art collecting habits for the rest of his life. He becomes more attentive to the portraits of young women that resemble his daughter. "Lady Cecil Rice" painted by Joshua Reynolds is among these portraits.

1905

Frick moves to New York and rents the William Vanderbilt house at 640 Fifth Avenue. The house attracts Henry Frick with its generous space and wide walls where Frick can put his expanding art collection

1909

Frick meets Joseph Duveen, a British art dealer who successfully influnced on Frick's acquistions of paintings and furniture. 

1910

Frick acquires "Elizabeth, Lady Taylor" painted by Joshua Reynolds. Frick buys the painting from the Duveen who knows Frick's passion for hats  

The hat in the painting becomes Frick's favorite. 

1911

Frick's desire to design his home interior with the aristocratic charm leads him to buy "The Hon. Frances Duncombe" painted by Thomas Gainsborough. The painting that possessed by dukes and earls of England, depicts a woman from the eighteenth century upper class family and perfectly suits Frick's tastes.

1912

The construction of new home at 1 East 70th Street, now the Frick Collection Museum, begins.

1914

Henry Frick and his family move into their new home.

The same year Henry acquires "Genoese Noblewoman" painted by Anthony Van Dyck. Frick hangs the painting in the south wall of the west gallery of his new house. 

1918

Frick acquires "Lady Cecil Rice" painted by Joshua Reynolds. The painting is among his last acquisitions. "Lady Cecil Rice" reminds Frick of his daughter and hangs in his rooms until his death.

1919 December 2

Henry Clay Frick dies and bequeaths 15 000 000 $ to be used for the maintenance and expansion of his collection "for the use and benefit of all persons whomsoever."

1935

The Frick Collection opens to the public.