The curator of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York died in a train crash Automatic translate

The art market was shocked and saddened by the news that Walter Liedtke, curator of the Dutch and Flemish painting department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, died in a train crash on the Metro-North railway line, February 3 evening.

Walter Leidtke. Foto: Jackie Neale Chadwick

In an official statement, Metropolitan Director Thomas Campbell writes: “We are deeply saddened by this tragic incident. Walter was a brilliant, respected curator and researcher of Dutch and Flemish painting. He has been part of the large family of our museum for 35 years. He has organized dozens of major exhibitions, including works by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Hals and many other great artists for millions of our visitors. We will long remember him for his vast knowledge, his wit and passion for art, which inspired everyone who had the honor to work with him. ”

Walter Leydtke received a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University in New Jersey (Rutgers University) and a doctorate from the Courtauld Institute, University of London. He planned to devote himself to teaching, but after four years in Ohio (1975-79), he received a Melloun scholarship at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where he received a position a year later, where he worked until his death.

Walter Leidtke was responsible for the Vermeer and the Delft School exhibition, which was attended by about 8,000 people daily, more than any other art exhibition in the world. Walter Leidtke is the author of the first ever catalog of Flemish painting of the 17th century (1984) and Dutch painting (2009). At the time of his death, Leidtke was preparing a catalog of a collection of Spanish paintings of the 15th - 18th centuries. Leidtke was also known for his funny sense of humor and passion for photographing. He was 69 years old, he lived in Westchester County, with his wife Nancy.

Anna Sidorova © Gallerix.ru