I love the Frick Collection. They currently have a Turner exhibit which I wanted to see so I treated myself to another trip, and as always was pleasantly surprised to feel myself so at home there. Out of every museum I've been to in every city around the globe, it's the one I find myself wanting to return to even as I leave.

Maybe it's because it was formerly a private home with collections that make you feel, even just for a second, the warmth and comfort that the family must have felt living with these restful works. There is a strong focus on pre-1900's paintings and sculpture yet battle scenes and hunting glorifications have no place here. The religious art is kept to a minimum in favor of portraits' beauty and peaceful European landscapes, while thick rugs and ornate yet tasteful furniture adorn each room.

The architecture is understated yet spectacular with wood carved walls, bas relief ceilings, and a central Garden Court (granted this did not exist in the original mansion) that acts as an indoor floral resting place for weary visitors. And of course the stunning Fragonard Room provides an immersion into some of the best Rococo style, surrounding you with blue skies, cherubs, and lushly imagined ideals.

An intimate experience, it allows you to take time at each painting, unclassified by period or artist, but placed in a much more organic method. These reasons are ultimately why I prefer the Frick to all others, and despite being a relatively poor New Yorker, I do thank the good intentions that inspired him to found this museum in perpetuity so that we can appreciate his unique treasures.