FEATURED COCKTAIL: Gin Martini (gin, dry vermouth, lemon twist); the mocktail is chilled linden tea. For the complete recipes, visit www.frick.org/cocktails-curator.

Merci, Mr Salomon, pour vos conférences passionnantes, qui traversent l’océan Atlantique pour nous régaler merveilleusement.Et quel moyen délicieux de travailler un peu l’anglais...

Now and than I return to these videos with great pleasure. What a wonderful work! Thank you, Mr Salomon.

The indulgence of time that I have to enjoy these short videos is so rewarding. I am a docent at the Dallas Museum of Art and have never had this much time to enjoy learning about so many collections around the world.

An especially moving and thoughtful episode. Thank you to the curator for imparting some real wisdom and solace to us out in the audience. These are indeed (hugely) difficult times in our lives and Xavier's sentiments at the end of this show were very comforting and profound. Bravo.

This series has been a mental health essential during our Plague Year. But Mr. Salomon has outdone himself in this episode. The timing with possibly the most stressful week yet in 2020 was sheer genius. We need to refocus and re-evaluate what is important, what is significant, what sustains us over the long run and what we need to preserve and respect. Thank you so much for all your insightful observations, historical context, and skill at expanding our appreciation of art that we may have scurried past at one time because it was not what we thought we needed to see. A special shout-out to your most excellent co-curator Aimee Ng who also has contributed greatly to our #selfcare routine through this series.

Hello from Italy ! This Is exactly the way the paintings should be described. I Hope we will have more gifts of this kind from Xavier. GRAZIE MILLE !

My favorite painter. Whenever I stand in front of a Chardin, I hear him speak, literally, as he leads my eye from the plum that has rolled toward us (like the one piglet in a litter that wants to explore) to the rough edge of the squash (that may contain a face), to the very inviting glass of water. At minute 16, our dear friend Xavier takes us to another plane, which is very good of him, but I found myself weeping at the inconsequence of our lives. While M. Chardin stands at my side and says: look, look, look. This episode is other-worldly.

One of my favorite episodes. Thank you.

This has been so inspiring and even comforting, Xavier. From a simple painting, we learned many valuable lessons. Thank you so much. Of all the episodes of Cocktails with a Curator, wonderful as they have been , this has been one of the very, very best and so much needed.

Thank you for your choice of the painting and the way you discussed it. Deep thoughts, warm emotions - totally in line with the Chardin’s masterpiece.

All these lectures have been entertaining and wonderful but this one, I think, is particularly insightful and comforting. Thank you, Xavier Salomon.

Thank you Xavier. It’s one of your best.

Hello from Mar del Plata, Argentina! I love this series of talks by X. Salomon and Aimee Ng. I visited New York and the Frick Collection in 2013, and I hope to come back...

Thank you! Wise and wonderful!

Another excellent talk Xavier bringing to light the beauty of the simplest objects in life. Like Chardin, you exposed many to look, pause and notice the allure of nature and objects in front of us. Bravissimo!

I loved the simplicity of Chardin, now I love it more. Thanks for such illuminating lecture.

Still life has always been one of my favourite mediums and I am thrilled to have been a part of this wonderful presentation - I am in Mexico and if there is one plus that has come from our inability to travel to see these works of art in place it is that each Friday I learn a little more and get to engage in such a special collection as the Frick. Thank you for making all these amazing pieces come alive for us who are not able to travel at the moment. Muchas gracias!

I just can’t describe how much I have enjoyed these talks. I’ve leaned so much. Thank you Xavier. Please, please, don’t stop.

Mr Solomon,you are the greatest art lector I know,thanks o lot!

Brilliantly done!

And a special Thank You to you also Xavier! This was wonderful, the paintings and your explanations were very calming and enjoyable. Exactly what I needed today.

Grazie Xavier !

Thank you for the ongoing pleasure of these cocktail hours. You have enhanced my appreciation of "still lifes".

I had never been interested in still life paintings - until now! Thank you for opening a new world. Love the combination of art, a book (Proust) and an interesting and soothing beverage. Thanks from Victoria, Canada 🇨🇦

Beautiful, thank you.

Thanks a lot for opportunity to meet this great artist! Your narrative was so interesting, also your speech was so calm and understandable for me, non English speaker. I wish all curators were as you that the foreigners were able to watch videos like this. I am going to read about this artist right now to learn more.

One of the best, remarkably beautiful and comforting, thank you!

Thank you for the feelings you express and inspire in these lectures.

This was a wonderful presentation. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Yes, the gift of Covid... for those of us not on the front lines...is time, to reflect to not multi task, be here now. And to really appreciate a painting by allowing it to draw you in, be led through by a good composition. Thank you for bringing in Proust!!! A worthwhile pause!

The Chrysler Museum in Norfolk, VA, has one of my favorite still life paintings by Chardin, the Basket of Plums. There is just something calming about looking at some of Chardin's paintings. A moment to pause. I love this one at Frick. The Phillips Collection has a lovely still life with plums that has an amazing porcelain ewer in it. This has to have been one of my favorites in this series!

Another gem from Xavier and The Frick collection! Cannot wait to view it "IRL" once again to get the full impact of its texture and artistry.

When I was a tour guide at the Norton Simon Museum my favorite paintings were the 2 Chardin kitchen scenes. Great lecture

Thank you Xavier, you make Friday a joy. Enjoyed all of your talk and also Aimee Ng presentation. Became a Frick member to support Tina Penzel

Brilliant !!

Excellent. Chardin sees the innate sophistication of the simple. The play of light and refraction of light is incredible. Thanks you Xavier.

Having been to the frick and enjoyed the jewel box that it is, I LOVE this series. It is just next to life saving...certainly sanity saving. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Xoxo from Redondo bch CA.

'What is this life if full of care we have no time to stop and stare': we should always take time and these videos encourage us to do the same. Thank you.

Thank you for sharing the painting so lovingly featured with the cocktail hour - it is wizardry. Cheers.

Outstanding

Excellent!

On the right I interpret two baguettes. Enjoyed the episode

Thank you for another delightful episode, You are a gem Mr Salomon! Salutations du Canada. . .

Once again, a very thoughtful and inspiring episode. Thanks for this to Xavier Salomon and to Chardin...

One of the most thoughtful, and most interesting so far. Thank you!

Beautiful still life ! The light...wow...!

Great talk.

TGIF everyone! from Loris SC, after a few long days, time to enjoy this show!

Thank you Dr. Solomon🎨

thank you for your wonderful view of these paintings.

Many thanks for your inspiring thoughts on Chardin.

Thank you Xavier!

Here’s to you ! Thank you again for a wonderful addition.

As a recovered alkie...lol....i notice he never even took one sip of that martini...lol...fabulous interlude...i live in pittsburgh and have seen the garlic and coffee pot painting many x

Loving this series! As a New Yorker I’m an ashamed I’ve never visited the Frick Collection. Especially since I’m an avid museum goer :(..... anyways cheers!

How is it that Xavier, avec son français impeccable, should pronounce the word 'genre' in such an unusual manner? Its English pronunciation is practically the same as the French (just a little less Frenchified) yet he says it numerous times in a way that catches my ear for its oddness. My theory is that, after many years of being exposed to Americans who mispronounce the word due to not knowing the standard pronunciation (like 'bourgeoisie'), he has adjusted the way he pronounces this word to make it easier for average American listeners to recognise that word they'd to now only seen written in books. What a gentleman Xavier is (o; This video is another enchanting, engaging and edifying tour de force, what a treat to have Xavier and Aimee to guide us sagely and slyly through the enthralling histories of the great works in the Frick.

Thank you Xavier for your words, much needed after this long week..Saluti da Roma. .

Thank you, kind sir.

As a atelier student, this is so inspiring and informative - thank you so much for the presentation, thank you also to my fellow atelier classmate who send me this site 💕❤️🥰

Thank you for such a hopeful , wonderful presentation and ending. Well done !

Joined you with a Gibson tonight! Terrific, and insightful~. 😉

Just what I needed today. Thank you!

Another wonderful chat on a lovely painting. A job well done.

Salute! From a getaway on Mirror Lake this morning in the midst of so much beauty in nature.

Thank You again for a wonderful video. Your commentary is so informative and sensitive. I really appreciate the sensitive way that you present these wonderful works of art. This presentation really illustrates what great artists can communicate to us of the human condition and our relationships to the world and to nature. Their message (and yours) is relevant throughout time and is universal.

Fabulous, as always!

Thank so so much. That was lovely!

Always great

Very eloquent...thank you so much.

Thank you for this

That was very enjoyable. Thank you.

Magnifico; thank you

I think that I have inherited a Chardin. The painting is a portrait of a young boy. I need to have it authenticated. On the back of the painting, is a wooden plate with Chardin’s signature. As I said before, I inherited the painting from my Brother who past in 2004. My Brother was a dealer of French Art and antiques. I have searched for a the same painting indicating that it in fact a copy. I could not find his signature on the front of the painting. I assumed that it was a copy. But I could not find the painting on the internet so I would love to know if the painting is authentic. The painting was xrayed at a fine art auction house in San Francisco. They found that the painting had been cleaned and so they didn’t feel that they were professional enough to identify it. My brother left me with no paper work or the bill of sale. I was not there when my brother’s estate was sold. Maybe you can help me. If so I can send pictures and you could leave me an email in response to this comment. Thank you for your time.

it is sage or oregano on the ledge...I think. Not flowers. Makes sense with the garlic.

Chardin a toast to fabulous!

Gawd, I'd be lucky if I could produce "only" 4-5 museum worthy paintings a year.

So beautifully expressed.

I do usually join in to these sessions, but this one in particular is of interest to me: Chardin and I share a birthday. Please don't associate him (or me) with Halloween! No doubt All Souls Days would have been holiday celebrated in his life.

Diderot on Chardin: Ah, vous revoila donc, grand magicien, avec vos compositions mutte! Qu'elles parle eloquemment a l'artiste!

thank you.

i really think these are two baguettes on the right!

The whole time you were talking I was thinking how modern his still lifes look.

Interesting discussion. Random thought: Diego Velázquez was another painter, from a century earlier, who also has masterful evocations of still life, perhaps not dedicated still life, but certainly with a lot of attention and care to depict objects that are everyday and yet essential to life. Did Chardin know anything about Velázquez's work?

The plums are not dusty,they covered in a kind of wax,as grapes do.

Cezanne must have appreciated Chardin, no?

Squash? Perhaps loaves of bread?

Does the upper squash actually lean on the rim of the glass? It's actually not resting on the lower squash but seems to be much longer and is bridging it. I like Chardin less when I hear him being preachy or moralistic. It's all about the beauty of the subtle, small and not at all flamboyant. Real life without a lot of self-aggrandizement one would find in court life or the big city. You could look at the peaches as a reminder that sweet fruits can turn quickly. The peaches have that brownish tinge that indicates they are starting to over ripen. It doesn't have to be a prophetic statement or even particularly moralistic, just a recognition of the rules of life and being a physical creature. Actually a lot of people would rather not know. The artificial can meet expectations so much more easily. The artificial can deny reality. He definitely illustrated the idea that less is more and he isn't a bore. And he wasn't into hero worship.

I'd say he pot is a chocolate pot

Sir, it is not that the images are inadequate. You should have an expert in oil painting analyze the work and answer your inquiries. You are an excellent speaker, but please be aware that most people will not ever visit the Frick. Open the world to them.

Make it vodka, those plums are not simple and look tasty.

well xavier, why, as the curator, not spell it out? chardin shows a monumental emblematic opposition of the female (left) and male (right) gender - and theit marriage in the middle...

PANDEMIC ??? ARE YOU KIDDING? KEEP THE GNIKCUF PANDEMIC OUT OF EIGHTEENTH CENTURY ART, ESPECIALLY A CHARDIN. THIS PERSON NEEDS TO STAY AS FAR AWAY FROM SERIOUS ART ANALYSIS AS HE CAN GET. HE TOTALLY HAS NO CLUE WHAT CHARDIN IS AS AN ARTIST.

Thank you Xavier!