The Philippe de Montebello Years: Curators Celebrate Three Decades of Acquisitions
October 24, 2008–February 1, 2009
In honor of Philippe de Montebello—soon to retire after thirty-one years as the Metropolitan Museum's eighth and longest-serving director—this exhibition proposed and conceived by the curators brings together, for the first time, well over 250 masterpieces acquired by The Metropolitan Museum of Art during the director's tenure. All of the Museum's curatorial departments are represented by works ranging across the centuries from ancient prehistory to today and across the globe from Europe to Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Acquired by purchase and donation, singularly and in groups, these works demonstrate how the de Montebello years have dramatically enhanced the Museum's encyclopedic collections and encouraged public access to the greatness of the world's artistic traditions.
