Philippe’s “private” delectation: Metropolitan Museum’s full-page NY Times ad
I did two double takes while perusing yesterday’s The New Season section of the NY Times:
One was caused by the full-page ad (above) taken out by the Metropolitan Museum to honor Philippe de Montebello and to trumpet the upcoming exhibition of works acquired under his watch.
Do we really want to plant the idea in the heads of museum visitors that works in the galleries can be taken down and held in one’s hands for close perusal? We all know, if we think about it, that directorship has its prerogatives. But still…
The other “did I really see that?” moment came in this season round-up by Nicolai Ouroussoff, where he observed:
Renzo Piano seems to be building everywhere these days, and some argue that the
steep rise in the number of commissions he accepts has coincided with a
decline in the quality of his work.
“SOME ARGUE“? Nicolai, you’re the eminent architecture critic of the NY Times. Inquiring readers want to know: What do YOU think about this?