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.
Drove of Swine: Evening EffectLudwig Knaus
First SnowPieter van Veen
Marion Lenbach and the Daughter of the Painter Nikolaus GysisFranz von Lenbach
Seascape with FiguresNikolai Nikanorovich Dubovskoi
A Critical Point in the GameLouis Moeller
Urteil des Paris (The Judgment of Paris)Franz von Stuck
Helmuth, Count von MoltkeFranz von Lenbach
Sun MaidenLillian Genth
Landscape with Church TowersFranz-Xaver Hoch
Dans les bois (In the Woods)William-Adolphe Bouguereau
Birkenwald (Birch Grove)Ludwig Dill
Das Bilderbuch I (Picture Book I)Fritz von Uhde
Seifenblasen (Soap Bubbles)Gabriel von Max
Two Gordon Setters in a FieldPercival Rosseau
Frühlingtanz (Spring Dance)Franz von Stuck
PlumsMary Hinkson
Three Young Cows with their Drover in the High Meadow Grass, WorthHeinrich von Zügel
In a Föhn StormMathias Schmid
PeacockJulius Scheuerer
Evening by Moorland Stream, Loch Lyon, PerthshireWilliam Watson Junior
Charles H. FryeHenry Raschen
Here I AmLeopold Schmutzler
The SecretLudwig von Zumbusch
Head study for Portrait of Charles H. FryeHenry Raschen
BacchanteGabriel von Max
Goats and SheepAnton Braith
Landscape Near PollingAdolf Heinrich Lier
HarvestersLudwig von Zumbusch
At the StreamOtto Strützel
Otto von BismarckFranz von Lenbach
In the Roman CampagnaFranz-Xaver Hoch
Spanische Tänzerin (Spanish Dancer)Otto Hierl-Deronco
Shepherd with his FlockPaul Weber
The Burning StableAdolf Schreyer
Winter LandscapeArnold Gorter
Children by the SeaLudwig von Zumbusch
Emma Lamp FryeHenry Raschen
SaharetFranz von Lenbach
Moonlight SceneFrançois Cachoud
Study for the Death of MozartMihály de Munkácsy
Boy with a Red CapLudwig von Zumbusch
Pope Leo XIIIFranz von Lenbach
Surf BreakingEmil Carlsen
Dutch Woman and ChildAlbert Neuhuys
Woman in CostumeLeopold Schmutzler
Herbstwald mit Kühen (Autumn Forest with Cows)Carola Baer-von Mathes
View of ReichenauGeorg Geyer
Portrait of Hanna RalphFriedrich August von Kaulbach
At the BeachLudwig von Zumbusch
Old ManHenry Raschen
Pause (At Rest)Gabriel von Max
Landscape with PoplarsKarl Heffner
Arab RidersAdolf Schreyer
Little HansLudwig von Zumbusch
Study for Cattle on the ShoreJohann Friedrich Voltz
Autumn SunArnold Gorter
Untitled [Meersburg, Lake Constance]Albert Wenk
Portrait of Charles H. FryeHenry Raschen
An d. Loisachtal (Loisach Valley)Giulio Beda
Dipping SheepCharles Edward Johnson
Village in the SnowJose Maria Jardines
Die Kleine Tirolerin (The Little Tyrolean)Ludwig von Zumbusch
Old Man (Head) with LocketHenry Raschen
Frau MerkFranz von Lenbach
The Blue DressAdolf Hengeler
Dordrecht, the Meuse seen from SwandrechtEugène Boudin
Head of a Girl in Folk CostumeMarie Weber
Portrait of Jacob SternLudwig Knaus
The Game of CatchArturo Ricci
Moulting DucksAlexander Max Koester
Old ManHenry Raschen
EcstasyFranz von Lenbach
Dans la vallée (In the Valley)Léon-Augustin Lhermitte
SpringtimeAdolf Hengeler
The Bird LoverLudwig von Zumbusch
Old ManHenry Raschen
Girl with a HatFranz von Lenbach
Old ManHenry Raschen
Landscape with FiguresUnknown, in the manner of Edouard Manet
The StormLouis Gabriel Eugène Isabey
Small Girl with PigsEdmond Louyot
Landscape with CampfireHenry Raschen
Weib, warum weinest du? (Woman, Why Weepest Thou?)Fritz von Uhde
Mutter und Kind (Mother and Child)Gabriel von Max
View of KönigsseeDániel Somogyi
Wilmersdorf, BerlinKarl Heffner
Child with a Brown HatLudwig von Zumbusch
Old ManHenry Raschen
Landscape with Indian CampHenry Raschen
Hunters and HoundsWilhelm von Diez
Landscape with HouseLudwig Willroider
SeptembreFrançois Cachoud
Landscape at BarbizonNarcisse Virgile Diaz de la Peña
Die Sünde (Sin)Franz von Stuck
Landscape with TreesFritz Baer
Rosario GuerreroFriedrich August von Kaulbach
In the MarshesEmile van Marcke de Lummen
Girl with GeeseKarl A. Heinisch
Head of ChildLudwig von Zumbusch
Old ManHenry Raschen
Lady CurzonFranz von Lenbach
UntitledGabriel von Max
Geraldine FarrarFriedrich August von Kaulbach
Two Cattle in a StreamHeinrich von Zügel
Eleonora DuseFranz von Lenbach
The DuelFranz von Stuck
Im Gasthaus (At the Inn)Franz von Defregger
StellaGustav Majer
Charles H. FryeHenry Raschen
Head of a ManMax Slevogt
Morning on the Hills of Loch Eilt, InvernesshireWilliam Watson Junior
Frauenportrait (Portrait of a Woman)Hugo von Habermann
The TrampsLudwig von Zumbusch
Old ManHenry Raschen
Dressing the ChildrenWalter Geffcken
The Deserted CampHenry Raschen
Parc Monceau, ParisChilde Hassam
Spring, GottenheimKarl Heffner
Portrait of Hanna RalphFriedrich August von Kaulbach
VoluptasFranz von Lenbach
Bei Brügge (At Bruges)Gilbert von Canal
Plauderei (Conversation)Walter Geffcken
Flight of LoveWilliam-Adolphe Bouguereau
Mother's JoyLudwig von Zumbusch
VeniceHermann Corrodi
Landscape with a BridgeCarl Ebert
Children with a BowlLudwig von Zumbusch
In the PastureOtto Strützel
Braut von Corinth (Bride of Corinth)Gabriel von Max
CourtyardMax Liebermann
The FarmyardAntonio Matteo Montemezzo
Self-PortraitAnselm Feuerbach
The Gypsy CampLudwig Knaus
The Coming Storm, West NorwayHans Dahl
Emma Lamp FryeHenry Raschen
Portrait of a LadyFranz von Lenbach
LandscapeLudwig Willroider
AugustCarl Ebert
Children with a Bird's NestLudwig von Zumbusch
Green LandscapeLudwig Willroider
Botaniker (The Botanists)Gabriel von Max
Summer NightHans Thoma
Rocky Landscape with BirchesThéophile de Bock
Märchenerzählerin (Storyteller)Walther Firle
Harbor, TripoliFelix Ziem
Steep Ravine, Marin County, CaliforniaThaddeus Welch
Landscape with BoatArnold Gorter
View of CorsicaHermann Corrodi
Landscape with CattleArnold Gorter
SaharetFranz von Stuck
UntitledGabriel von Max
Children with a BallLudwig von Zumbusch
Autumn Morning with SheepOtto Strützel
Wash DayFritz Baer
Marion LenbachFranz von Lenbach
Landscape with StreamJosef Wenglein
First CommunionJuan Pablo Salinas y Teruel
Schafherde mit Hirte (Shepherd with Flock)Heinrich von Zügel
Herd of Sheep and Cattle at a Well in a Wooded Narrow Pass, BrixleggHeinrich von Zügel
Canal Scene with SailboatKarl Heffner
Pointers in the Woods, AutumnJohn Califano
Landscape with SnowArnold Gorter
The Artist's Daughter in Spanish CostumeFranz von Stuck
Bavarian GirlFranz von Defregger
Oxen - Two CowsHeinrich von Zügel
ExpectationFrederic Soulacroix
Die Römer der Verfallzeit (Romans of the Decadence)Anselm Feuerbach
Moonlight SceneJohan Barthold Jongkind
Three PuttiAdolf Hengeler
Hochzeitsfahrt (Going to the Wedding)Alfred von Wierusz-Kowalski
Ducks in Green WaterAlexander Max Koester
Norwegian GirlHans Dahl
Mountain Brook in the SnowFranz-Xaver Hoch
Trüber Wintertag (Cloudy Winter Day)Rudolph Petuel
RosesEmil Carlsen
Chief SeattleHenry Raschen
GretelLudwig von Zumbusch
Cattle on a PathGustav Wimmer
The RaceAlfred von Wierusz-Kowalski
CattleLéon Barillot
Dordrecht, The CathedralEugène Boudin
View of the Harbor, Le HavreEugène Boudin
The Grand Canal, VeniceFranz Unterberger
The CondemnedMihály de Munkácsy
Landscape with OxenLudwig Willroider
Countess Leoni WedelFranz von Lenbach
Four in HandChristian Speyer
October MorningArnold Gorter
The Time of the CuckooEdmund Steppes
Girl by a BrookLudwig von Zumbusch
SheepHeinrich von Zügel
Saplings by the RiverPieter van Veen
The Blonde BavarianFranz von Defregger
Fête Galante (A Splendid Party)Adolphe Monticelli
Rest on the Flight into EgyptHans Thoma
Porträt der Familie des Künstlers (Portrait of the Artist’s Family)Friedrich August von Kaulbach
By the Shores of ChiemseeCarl Ebert
Peasant Girl with CattleAdolphe Charles Marais
Morning on the Hills, Loch Tay, PerthshireWilliam Watson Junior
Trees, Stream & CattleArnold Gorter
Head of a GirlUnknown, in the manner of Alfred Stevens
Child with a Brown Tam O'ShanterLudwig von Zumbusch
Red Dappled Oxen in Two Positions, HeckbachHeinrich von Zügel
Dancing Girls in the Garden--BacchanaliaFriedrich August von Kaulbach
Head of a GirlFranz von Defregger
Susanna and the EldersFranz Xaver Winterhalter
Man with a PipeFranz von Defregger
Shepherd with GoatsAnton Braith
Lily von PoschingerFranz von Lenbach
The BaptismLudwig Knaus
The Christian MartyrGabriel von Max
SeascapeAlbert Wenk
The WillowsPieter van Veen
WaterfallHortense Trotter
Boy with a HatLudwig von Zumbusch
Study of Emma Lamp FryeHenry Raschen
Nachtigallen (Nightingales)Gabriel von Max
Rooster and ChickensWalter Douglas
Girls DancingLudwig von Zumbusch
The Musical CavalierFritz von Uhde
Gardeuse de moutons (The Shepherdess)William-Adolphe Bouguereau
Visitors in the TyrolAttributed to Franz von Defregger
Three Cows and a CalfLéon Barillot
Old Man Asleep with SheepHeinrich von Zügel
Head of a GirlLeopold Schmutzler
Landscape with StreamArnold Gorter
