This Fall the Met Pays Special Attention to Contemporary Art - Fall Preview 2007 -- New York Magazine

Old Met vs. New Met

The Met’s old-master mastery is indisputable—but this fall, it’s paying fresh attention to the contemporary world.

By Rachel Wolff
Published Aug 24, 2007

(Photo: Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna)

OLD MET

“Tapestry in the Baroque: Threads of Splendor”
Rare tapestries commissioned by royals, popes, and noblemen—including a handful of Louis XIV’s lavish Parisian commissions. Opens October 17.

“The Gates of Paradise: Lorenzo Ghiberti’s Renaissance Masterpiece”
After a brief tour, Ghiberti’s bronze fifteenth-century doors with biblical scenes will be moved to Florence. Forever. So hurry! Opens October 30.

New Galleries for Nineteenth-Century European Paintings and Sculpture
One of several spruced-up departments this fall. Opens December 4.

NEW MET

“Tara Donovan at the Met”
Installation artist Donovan (she’s into Mylar) takes over a space opened two years ago to feature mid-career work. Opens November 20.

“Abstract Expressionism and Other Modern Works: The Muriel Kallis Steinberg Newman Collection in the Metropolitan Museum of Art”
At 93, Newman decided to hand over her bequest—from Pollock to de Kooning—early. Opens September 18.

“Depth of Field: Modern Photography at the Metropolitan”
Opens the Met’s space for post-1960 photography. Look for Sigmar Polke, Doug Aitken, Jeff Wall. Opens September 25.