Robin Nicholson, director of The Frick Pittsburgh since 2014, says he heard many times upon taking charge at the art and historical center in Point Breeze what a ”hidden gem” it was — a great collection in need of more exposure.
That exposure grew exponentially today with addition of the Frick to the Google Cultural Institute, an online collection of artwork, photos, videos and other treasures from more than 1,000 museums and historic sites worldwide.
Representatives from the Frick, Google and government offices attended the formal announcement at the Frick Art Museum this morning of its becoming the first Pittsburgh museum featured in the online institute. Google says it encourages participation from any interested museum to help make wide-ranging cultural objects from around the globe easily accessible in one place for anyone with a computer.
At https://www.google.com/culturalinstitute/collection/the-frick-pittsburgh, viewers can scan in fine detail 150 different objects selected for online display from the local Frick estate, which consists of the art museum, the Clayton residence and an antique car and carriage collection.
The public can study diverse pieces such as Peter Paul Rubens’ 17th century “Portrait of Charlotte-Marguerite de Montmorency, Princess of Conde,” a 1923 Silver Ghost Salamanca Town Car from Rolls-Royce, an 1890 Orchestrion that replicates nine instruments and a 1782 urn from the Palace of Versailles.
Meanwhile, Google technicians are spending time capturing 3D imagery at the museum to enable a virtual tour of the Frick to be added in a few weeks to the Google Cultural Institute website.
“The key is the mapping tools,” Mr. Nicholson said. “Someone will be able to zoom in on the Frick, dive into the interiors and rooms, looking at the pieces at an incredible level of detail.”
Mr. Nicholson was familiar with the Google project before coming to Pittsburgh. He put the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond on track to partner in the online institute before departing there, and he knew he wanted to do the same with the Frick upon arrival. He believes it will only attract more people to want to visit in person, once they see the breadth of what’s available.
“There’s still nothing that replaces the one-on-one experience with art,” Mr. Nicholson said.
Gary Rotstein: grotstein@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1255.
First Published: March 10, 2016, 6:56 p.m.
