The Frye Museum was founded not by wealthy aristocrats or royals but by Charles Frye, owner of his own successful meatpacking plant, and his wife Emma. Charles was the son of German immigrants; he was born in Iowa, and married Emma before moving to Seattle at age 30, where he established his business. At around age 35, Charles is said to have viewed his first oil painting: He and his wife became avid collectors (especially of German-style art, lending paintings to museums as well as Seattle's Alaska-Yukon Pacific Exhibition (related to the World's Fair). They had a large collection of paintings in their home, as well as a private exhibition space.
The Fryes had planned to donate their collection to the Seattle Art Museum after Charles's death, but--perhaps given to the strict guidelines about the exhibition space of the artwork, perhaps given the significant presence of German paintings around a time of anti-German sentiment, around WWII--the collection was refused.
Charles and Emma left money in their will to open their own private museum. The executor of the will--Walser Greathouse--became the museum's first director, ensuring that the Frye's wishes of big rooms, concrete floors and free admission were carried out.
The Frye's original collection consisted mostly of "dark, dramatic and psychological' works rather than patriotic or gentle landscape-stype art. Although recent exhibits--such as Ties That Bind--have ventured toward more accessible art, there were still paintings on display by artists fascinated by the changing skin tone of dead bodies, as well as the expressions on the faces of the "possessed" and similar topics.
The Fryes had planned to donate their collection to the Seattle Art Museum after Charles's death, but--perhaps given to the strict guidelines about the exhibition space of the artwork, perhaps given the significant presence of German paintings around a time of anti-German sentiment, around WWII--the collection was refused.
Charles and Emma left money in their will to open their own private museum. The executor of the will--Walser Greathouse--became the museum's first director, ensuring that the Frye's wishes of big rooms, concrete floors and free admission were carried out.
The Frye's original collection consisted mostly of "dark, dramatic and psychological' works rather than patriotic or gentle landscape-stype art. Although recent exhibits--such as Ties That Bind--have ventured toward more accessible art, there were still paintings on display by artists fascinated by the changing skin tone of dead bodies, as well as the expressions on the faces of the "possessed" and similar topics.
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