Virtually all museums have websites, but few come close to rivaling that of the Frick Collection, New York City's premier redoubt for Old Masters and Delicious Young Things. Housed in the 5th Avenue mansion of industrialist Henry Clay Frick, the museum is legendary for its choice paintings by Jan Van Eyck, François Boucher, J.A.D. Ingres and others, all displayed in sumptuously paneled rooms amid ornamental porcelain, gilded furniture and splendid sculpture. The website's virtual tour allows for close-up inspection of everything, down to the cracks in the paintings and flowers in the vases.
Because the Frick is also the city's most exclusive party place, the website includes innumerable snaps of socialites in their flossiest plumage. Who knew that Ivanka Trump is, professionally speaking, a jewelry designer and not just a diamond magnet? Serious researchers can check out the Frick library as well as the art, gardens, bookshop, exhibition and concert schedule. Only the bowling alley in the basement is off-limits.
MARY ABBE
