Founding Collection

The Founding Collection reflects the distinctive vision of museum founders Charles and Emma Frye and celebrates late-nineteenth and early-twentieth-century European and American art. The children of German immigrants, the Fryes became prominent business leaders and patrons of the arts after settling in Seattle in 1888. Their collection of 232 oil paintings, almost half of which features German artists, was formed during the years around 1900.

Charles and Emma Frye developed their passion for art at the Columbian Exposition, a world's fair held in Chicago in 1893. The experience had a great influence on the painterly subjects and artists the couple would collect in years to come. Over the next four decades, the Fryes acquired paintings while traveling abroad in Europe and from auctions, most notably those of American collections formed by Hugo Reisinger and Josef Stránský.

The Fryes famously hung their paintings floor to ceiling, salon style, in a specially built gallery space attached to their home on First Hill. Beyond Germany, the Fryes collected works by artists from Austria, Denmark, England, France, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, and the United States.

Highlights include works by two generations of artists from Munich—those of the Münchener Künstlergenossenschaft (Munich Artist’s Association) such as Franz von Defregger, Franz von Lenbach, Wilhelm Leibl, and Friedrich August von Kaulbach—and artists who formed the Munich Secession including Ludwig Dill, Hugo von Habermann, Otto Hierl-Deronco, Franz von Stuck, Wilhelm Trübner, Fritz von Uhde, and Heinrich von Zügel. Other notable works include paintings by Eugène Boudin, William-Adolphe Bouguereau, Lillian Genth, Gabriel von Max, and Mihály de Munkácsy.

The Founding Collection continues to serve as a catalyst for artistic inquiry at the Frye Art Museum in exhibitions that reframe its works and history through a lens of contemporary scholarship.

Sun MaidenLillian Genth1904-1914
Landscape with Church TowersFranz-Xaver Hoch1912
Dans les bois (In the Woods)William-Adolphe Bouguereau1905
Birkenwald (Birch Grove)Ludwig Dill1895-1905
Seifenblasen (Soap Bubbles)Gabriel von Max1881
Two Gordon Setters in a FieldPercival Rosseau1904
Frühlingtanz (Spring Dance)Franz von Stuckca. 1925
PlumsMary Hinkson1883-1936
In a Föhn StormMathias Schmid1886
PeacockJulius Scheuerer1907
First SnowPieter van Veen1909-1919
Seascape with FiguresNikolai Nikanorovich Dubovskoi1899
A Critical Point in the GameLouis Moeller1898-1908
Helmuth, Count von MoltkeFranz von Lenbach1873
Flight of LoveWilliam-Adolphe Bouguereau1901
Mother's JoyLudwig von Zumbusch1895-1900
VeniceHermann Corrodi1895-1905
Landscape with a BridgeCarl Ebert1855-1865
Children with a BowlLudwig von Zumbusch1907-1917
In the PastureOtto Strützel1912
Braut von Corinth (Bride of Corinth)Gabriel von Max1900-1915
CourtyardMax Liebermann1877-1887
The FarmyardAntonio Matteo Montemezzo1861-1898
Self-PortraitAnselm Feuerbach1853
The Gypsy CampLudwig Knaus1857
Emma Lamp FryeHenry Raschen1913
Portrait of a LadyFranz von Lenbach1900
LandscapeLudwig Willroider1865-1910
AugustCarl Ebert1865-1875
Children with a Bird's NestLudwig von Zumbusch1882-1927
Green LandscapeLudwig Willroider1890-1899
Botaniker (The Botanists)Gabriel von Max1900-1915
Summer NightHans Thoma1882
Rocky Landscape with BirchesThéophile de Bock1871-1904
Märchenerzählerin (Storyteller)Walther Firle1884-1889
Harbor, TripoliFelix Ziem1890-1899
Landscape with BoatArnold Gorter1905-1910
View of CorsicaHermann Corrodi1885-1895
Landscape with CattleArnold Gorter1906-1915
SaharetFranz von Stuck1902
UntitledGabriel von Max1900-1915
Children with a BallLudwig von Zumbusch1899-1909
Autumn Morning with SheepOtto Strützel1871-1930
Wash DayFritz Baer1875-1885
Marion LenbachFranz von Lenbach1890-1900
Landscape with StreamJosef Wenglein1865-1919
First CommunionJuan Pablo Salinas y Teruel1885-1895
Canal Scene with SailboatKarl Heffner1870-1880
Pointers in the Woods, AutumnJohn Califano1900-1910
Landscape with SnowArnold Gorter1886-1933
Bavarian GirlFranz von Defregger1911
Oxen - Two CowsHeinrich von Zügel1900
ExpectationFrederic Soulacroix1873-1933
Moonlight SceneJohan Barthold Jongkind1864
Three PuttiAdolf Hengeler1883-1927
Hochzeitsfahrt (Going to the Wedding)Alfred von Wierusz-Kowalski1869-1915
Ducks in Green WaterAlexander Max Koester1910-1913
Norwegian GirlHans Dahl1900-1910
Mountain Brook in the SnowFranz-Xaver Hoch1912
RosesEmil Carlsen1895
Chief SeattleHenry Raschen1916
GretelLudwig von Zumbusch1882-1927
Cattle on a PathGustav Wimmer1897-1952
The RaceAlfred von Wierusz-Kowalski1900-1915
CattleLéon Barillot1875-1885
Dordrecht, The CathedralEugène Boudin1885-1889
View of the Harbor, Le HavreEugène Boudin1885-1890
The Grand Canal, VeniceFranz Unterberger1890s
The CondemnedMihály de Munkácsy1869-1872
Landscape with OxenLudwig Willroider1875-1885
Countess Leoni WedelFranz von Lenbach1902
Four in HandChristian Speyer1911
October MorningArnold Gorter1906-1915
The Time of the CuckooEdmund Steppes1907
Girl by a BrookLudwig von Zumbusch1920
SheepHeinrich von Zügel1900-1925
Saplings by the RiverPieter van Veen1921
The Blonde BavarianFranz von Defregger1900-1910
Fête Galante (A Splendid Party)Adolphe Monticelli1846-1886
Peasant Girl with CattleAdolphe Charles Marais1890
Trees, Stream & CattleArnold Gorter1906-1915
Head of a GirlUnknown, in the manner of Alfred Stevens1844-1906
Child with a Brown Tam O'ShanterLudwig von Zumbusch1900-1910
Dancing Girls in the Garden--BacchanaliaFriedrich August von Kaulbach1899
Head of a GirlFranz von Defregger1887-1895
Susanna and the EldersFranz Xaver Winterhalter1866
Man with a PipeFranz von Defregger1905-1915
Shepherd with GoatsAnton Braith1895
Lily von PoschingerFranz von Lenbach1901
The BaptismLudwig Knaus1845-1855
The Christian MartyrGabriel von Max1867
SeascapeAlbert Wenk1912-1920
The WillowsPieter van Veen1918
WaterfallHortense Trotter1896
Boy with a HatLudwig von Zumbusch1882-1927
Study of Emma Lamp FryeHenry Raschen1908-1918
Nachtigallen (Nightingales)Gabriel von Max1900-1915
Rooster and ChickensWalter Douglas1915-1925
Girls DancingLudwig von Zumbusch1910-1912
The Musical CavalierFritz von Uhde1877
Gardeuse de moutons (The Shepherdess)William-Adolphe Bouguereau1881
Visitors in the TyrolAttributed to Franz von Defregger1875-1879
Three Cows and a CalfLéon Barillot1885-1895
Charles H. FryeHenry Raschen1908-1918
Here I AmLeopold Schmutzler1905-1915
The SecretLudwig von Zumbusch1882-1927
BacchanteGabriel von Max1900-1915
Goats and SheepAnton Braith1865-1875
Landscape Near PollingAdolf Heinrich Lier1860-1870
HarvestersLudwig von Zumbusch1882-1927
At the StreamOtto Strützel1900-1910
Otto von BismarckFranz von Lenbach1896
In the Roman CampagnaFranz-Xaver Hoch1889-1916
Spanische Tänzerin (Spanish Dancer)Otto Hierl-Deronco1879-1935
Shepherd with his FlockPaul Weber1875-1885
The Burning StableAdolf Schreyer1848-1899
Winter LandscapeArnold Gorter1886-1933
Children by the SeaLudwig von Zumbusch1882-1927
Emma Lamp FryeHenry Raschen1908-1918
SaharetFranz von Lenbach1899
Moonlight SceneFrançois Cachoud1914
Study for the Death of MozartMihály de Munkácsy1884
Boy with a Red CapLudwig von Zumbusch1903-1904
Pope Leo XIIIFranz von Lenbach1885
Surf BreakingEmil Carlsen1911
Dutch Woman and ChildAlbert Neuhuys1864-1914
Woman in CostumeLeopold Schmutzler1905-1915
View of ReichenauGeorg Geyer1866
Portrait of Hanna RalphFriedrich August von Kaulbach1912-1922
At the BeachLudwig von Zumbusch1904-1905
Old ManHenry Raschen1875-1937
Pause (At Rest)Gabriel von Max1890-1899
Landscape with PoplarsKarl Heffner1890
Arab RidersAdolf Schreyer1870-1879
Little HansLudwig von Zumbusch1906-1908
Study for Cattle on the ShoreJohann Friedrich Voltzca. 1883
Autumn SunArnold Gorter1886-1933
Portrait of Charles H. FryeHenry Raschen1908-1918
Dipping SheepCharles Edward Johnson1890
Village in the SnowJose Maria Jardines1910-1920
Die Kleine Tirolerin (The Little Tyrolean)Ludwig von Zumbusch1882-1927
Old Man (Head) with LocketHenry Raschen1875-1937
Frau MerkFranz von Lenbach1901
The Blue DressAdolf Hengeler1912
Head of a Girl in Folk CostumeMarie Weber1870-1889
Portrait of Jacob SternLudwig Knaus1877
The Game of CatchArturo Ricci1880-1905
Moulting DucksAlexander Max Koester1895-1905
Old ManHenry Raschen1875-1937
EcstasyFranz von Lenbach1903
Dans la vallée (In the Valley)Léon-Augustin Lhermitte1910
SpringtimeAdolf Hengeler1908
The Bird LoverLudwig von Zumbusch1882-1927
Old ManHenry Raschen1875-1937
Girl with a HatFranz von Lenbach1900
Old ManHenry Raschen1875-1937
Landscape with FiguresUnknown, in the manner of Edouard Manet1850-1883
The StormLouis Gabriel Eugène Isabey1850
Small Girl with PigsEdmond Louyot1888-1898
Landscape with CampfireHenry Raschen1915-1920
Mutter und Kind (Mother and Child)Gabriel von Max1904-1914
View of KönigsseeDániel Somogyi1878
Wilmersdorf, BerlinKarl Heffner1913
Child with a Brown HatLudwig von Zumbusch1900-1910
Old ManHenry Raschen1875-1937
Landscape with Indian CampHenry Raschen1895-1905
Hunters and HoundsWilhelm von Diez1869
Landscape with HouseLudwig Willroider1885-1895
SeptembreFrançois Cachoud1895-1905
Landscape at BarbizonNarcisse Virgile Diaz de la Peña1870-1875
Die Sünde (Sin)Franz von Stuck1908
Landscape with TreesFritz Baer1900-1910
Rosario GuerreroFriedrich August von Kaulbach1903-1913
In the MarshesEmile van Marcke de Lummen1875-1885
Girl with GeeseKarl A. Heinisch1867-1923
Head of ChildLudwig von Zumbusch1882-1927
Old ManHenry Raschen1875-1937
Lady CurzonFranz von Lenbach1901
UntitledGabriel von Max1900-1915
Geraldine FarrarFriedrich August von Kaulbach1900-1910
Two Cattle in a StreamHeinrich von Zügel1906
Eleonora DuseFranz von Lenbach1886
The DuelFranz von Stuck1907
Im Gasthaus (At the Inn)Franz von Defregger1887
StellaGustav Majer1889
Charles H. FryeHenry Raschen1913
Head of a ManMax Slevogt1888
Frauenportrait (Portrait of a Woman)Hugo von Habermann1911-1917
The TrampsLudwig von Zumbusch1882-1927
Old ManHenry Raschen1875-1937
Dressing the ChildrenWalter Geffcken1908-1918
The Deserted CampHenry Raschen1875-1937
Parc Monceau, ParisChilde Hassam1897
Spring, GottenheimKarl Heffner1900-1910
Portrait of Hanna RalphFriedrich August von Kaulbach1913-1920
VoluptasFranz von Lenbach1897
Bei Brügge (At Bruges)Gilbert von Canal1900-1910
Plauderei (Conversation)Walter Geffcken1908-1918
Old Man Asleep with SheepHeinrich von Zügel1870-1880
Head of a GirlLeopold Schmutzler1884-1941
Landscape with StreamArnold Gorter1886-1933

Landscape with Trees

Fritz Baer

Oil on linen

ca. 1905

Wash Day

Fritz Baer

Oil on linen

ca. 1880

Herbstwald mit Kühen (Autumn Forest with Cows)

Carola Baer-von Mathes

Oil on linen

ca. 1890

Cattle

Léon Barillot

Oil on linen

ca. 1880

Three Cows and a Calf

Léon Barillot

Oil on linen

ca. 1890

An d. Loisachtal (Loisach Valley)

Giulio Beda

Oil on linen

ca. 1900

Dordrecht, The Cathedral

Eugène Boudin

Oil on panel

ca. 1885-89

View of the Harbor, Le Havre

Eugène Boudin

Oil on panel

ca. 1885-90