Museum Director Gets Legion of Honor Insignia
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
Philippe de Montebello, the French-born director of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, was awarded a Legion of Honor medal yesterday.
Mr. Montebello, 70, is the longest-serving director in the institution’s 137-year history. He started there in 1963 as a curatorial assistant and has led the museum since 1977.
In presenting Mr. Montebello with the honor, France’s Minister for Culture and Media, Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, called the director one of New York City’s “most eminent cultural figures,” adding that his name has become “synonymous” with the museum.
Mr. Vabres said Mr. Montebello’s “farsighted leadership” and “vigilant sense of stewardship” were key to the museum’s evolution.
