Philippe's Last Waltz (with Tears)

Don't worry. He's not leaving yet.

But in an interview with Danny Daniziger, the London-based author of the new oral-history book, Museum: Behind the Scenes at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (above), director Philippe de Montebello poignantly anticipates his "one last walk" at the Met.

The book is a series of short transcripts from Danziger's interviews with 49 Met-sters, ranging from George Cuesta of the plumbing shop to James Houghton, board chairman. Despite its tell-all title, there are few juicy revelations and the book's main theme is that people are tickled pink to be associated with the museum and they revere its director. The interviewees are in alphabetical order, putting "Montebello" somewhere in the middle.

These musings by PdM should really have been at the end. Read them and weep:

Nothing lasts forever. One day I'll have to say good-bye to the Met, to have one last walk. I'll be egotistical about it. Probably I'll go at midday when the sun is highest because most of the daylit galleries benefit from maximum zenithal light. Also, I prefer to walk in museums when there are people around....

I don't know what my path will be, but part of the mystery and beauty of my last walk at the Met is that it will not be planned. I'll bifurcate when I choose to. I will not be needing a schedule because of a meeting or an exhibition preparation later. I will have all the time in the world. And I will not know the route in advance; the element of improvisation will be an important part of it. I will become a pure flaneur, and, reflecting on what Valéry said about le vagabondage de l'oeil, my eye would become a vagabond in the galleries. A huge number of emotions will be awakened. I cry easily, so I might weep.

We might too.