Also unbelievable to some was the pick of Campbell, who is only 46 and whose name was rarely on the lips of art world insiders who had been scrutinizing the long search process. He was chosen over two more senior colleagues at the museum—his own boss, Ian Wardropper, the head of European sculpture and decorative arts, and Gary Tinterow, the curator in charge of 19th-century, modern and contemporary art. Other contenders were said to be the Tate Gallery’s director, Sir Nicholas Serota; the Louvre director Henri Loyrette; and Max Hollein, the director of the Schirn Kunsthalle, in Frankfurt.

When Campbell takes over on January 1, 2009, he becomes the Met’s ninth director in its 138-year history. But he would probably be the first to say, as Filler does, that there is a universal feeling that “no one can possibly replace Philippe, only succeed him.”

"An Epoch Ends" originally appeared in the October 2008 issue of Art+Auction. For a complete list of articles from this issue available on ARTINFO, see Art+Auction's October 2008 Table of Contents.