This year’s theme… Les Liaisons Dangereuses, inspired by the recently reopened and relit Fragonard Gallery at the Frick mansion. “The Progress of Love”, a remarkable series of paintings by the 18th century French artist Fragonard, was commissioned by the infamous mistress of Louis XV, Madame du Barry. The panels were to be installed in one of her smaller salons at the Château de Louveciennes. However, Fragonard objected to her request to make the young lovers in the pictures to look like her and the not-so-young king. When the panels were completed, Du Barry declined to take possession of the commissioned work and Fragonard was paid an indemnity of 18,000 livres!
Fragonard kept the panels at his home in Grasse, never selling them, and where more than a century later they were discovered by the British art dealer Sir Joseph Duveen, who then brought them to Henry Clay Frick, the latter purchasing them and installing them in his new mansion.
Last night love was definitely in the air, or at least a craving for weddings, judging by the surplus of huge white dresses! The exception, as always, was Ivanka Trump, who opted for a dreamy beige Monique Lhuiller Spring 2009 strapless gown, that had a ruffled skirt, and a contrast sash tied to the waist. She looked stunning! Monique Lhuiller herself wore of course her own designs, but her strapless teal gown looked so out of touch! I couldn’t help but wonder whether she really did design Ivanka’s dress…
The evening was an enormous success, with over 600 gorgeous people ignoring the Uptown seat prices, in order to mingle in the Galleries and in the splendid blue-lit Garden Court. The Education Program of The Frick Collection received a boost of nearly $300,000 thanks to all the generous guests!
After grooving through some DJ DL’s handsome tunes in my Valentino gown on a moving-light rococo projection on the floor, and then realizing that my sudden dizziness must be also somehow related to those Ivanka-sponsored Vodka lemony drinks, it was time to dash off to the La Perla after party at St Regis. Upon arrival, there was Champagne, and encore …Champagne! Enough for me to join in the singing next to the piano in an impromptu sing-along!
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