This has to be among the most eclectic major New York art exhibitions ever. The curators of the Metropolitan Museum of Art are honoring the renowned Philippe de Montebello by celebrating his 31 years as director of the great museum with a show of works acquired during his remarkable tenure. There are more than 300 of these acquisitions on display (Oct. 24, 2008-Feb. 1, 2009), but they are but a fraction of what was collected during the Montebello reign. They were selected form more than 84,000 works acquired by the museum during these years. The exhibit bears the appropriate title, “The Philippe de Montebello Years: Curators Celebrate Three Decades of Acquisitions.”
Visitors will find paintings, drawings, sculpture, furniture and a variety of artifacts, an eye-popping assembly that is a testament to the taste and broad scholarship attributed to the long-time director who is stepping down from his distinguished career.
The extensive nature of the showing requires that the visitor be prepared to spend more than the usual amount of time for maximum enjoyment of the event. For information, phone: 212-535-7710, or go to www.metmuseum.org.