Phillippe de Montebello, the former director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, recently gave a wide-ranging and fascinating interview to Artnet News. The principal topic was the Met and it’s fall from grace after the ouster of Mr. Montebello’s successor, Thomas Campbell.

Phillippe de Montebello from his days as Director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York

Today the Metropolitan Museum is experiencing serious financial difficulties and Mr. Montebello’s insight is both enlightening and intriguing:

It has been a difficult period for the museum, one in which a lot of very good people have suffered and left involuntarily. At the same time, the fundamental aspects of the Met have not changed. The Met will always remain the greatest museum in the world. It has continued to do wonderful exhibitions. 

You can read the full interview here.