The Philippe de Montebello years : curators celebrate three decades of acquisitions

Fascinating exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum in New York looking at works which had been acquired by the museum while Philippe de Montebello has been its director.

It was an eclectic mix of painting, furniture, sculpture, calligraphy, dresses and more, which gave a great sense of the range of interests of the museum. The tape tour was well worth taking as it explained why and how many of the pieces had been bought. Many of the stories were quite funny and touching and, as Philippe de Montebello himself was the main narrator, it gave you a real sense of the man and what he might be like to work with.

Where to start of favourite pieces? I have to pick the Lucien Freud of Leigh Bowery from the first room, such a study in flesh; Room two a wonderful self portrait of Rubens with his wife and child; A winged boy from the Medici garden in Florence; Van Gogh wheat field; Macintosh wash stand made for Kate Cranston and two rooms of prints and drawings just as your legs were giving out!

Review
New York Times

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