De Montebello Ends His Reign

Philippe has decided it’s almost time to take his last walk.
Carol Vogel of the NY Times reports:
Philippe de Montebello, who has led the Metropolitan Museum of Art for 30 years and has virtually become synonymous with its monumental profile, announced on Tuesday that he planned to retire at the end of the year.
More on this tomorrow. For now, just this from me:
He was, justifiably, the most respected and influential museum director in America. He ably led our country’s preeminent museum with a combination of wit, style, erudition and, especially, a supportive appreciation for the work of the curators who have made The De Montebello Metropolitan such a vibrant place.
He will be greatly missed…and a very tough act to follow.