The Met after Montebello
Philippe de Montebello, director of the Metropolitan Museum, New York, since 1977, retires at the end of this year. As the museum prepares to mark the event with an exhibition of acquisitions made over the past 31 years, Jonathan Lopez assesses the de Montebello legacy and considers the museum’s future under its newly appointed director, Thomas P. Campbell.
Jonathan Lopez, Tuesday, 23rd September 2008
Figures
1 Philippe de Montebello, examining the Madonna and Child by Duccio di Buoninsegna, bought by the museum in 2004. Photo: Joseph Coscia, Jr
2 Study of a Young Woman by Johannes Vermeer (1632-75), c. 1665-67. Oil on canvas, 44.5 x 40 cm. Gift of Mr and Mrs Charles Wrightsman, in memory of Theodore Rousseau Jr, 1979
3 Woman Seen from the Back by Onésipe Aguado (1827-94), c. 1862. Salted paper print from glass negative, 30.8 x 25.8 cm. Gilman Collection, Purchase, Joyce F. Menschel Gift, 2005
4 Nkisi N’Kondi (Power Figure), Congo, second half of 19th century.Wood, metal, resin, shell, ht 118 cm. Purchase, Lila Acheson Wallace, Laura & James J. Ross, Daniel & Marion Malcolm, Robert T. Wall, Jeffrey B. Soref, Sidney & Bernice Clyman, & Steven M. Kossak Gifts, 2008
5 Philippe de Montebello (right), with Thomas P. Campbell, following the announcement on 9 September that he will succeed De Montebello as the ninth director of the museum on 1 January 2009. Photo: Don Pollard
6 Pensive Bodhisattva, Korea, mid-7th century AD. Gilt bronze; ht 22.5 cm. Purchase, Walter and Leonore Annenberg and The Annenberg Foundation Gift, 2003
The works illustrating this article are all in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
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