Watteau and Words: A Reading of French Poetry November 19, 2009

Watteau and Words: A Reading of French Poetry
Philippe de Montebello, Director Emeritus, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Fiske Kimball Professor in the History of Culture and Museums, Institute of Fine Arts, New York University

Philippe de Montebello will speak about Antoine Watteau’s painting Mezzetin of 1718–20 (Metropolitan Museum) and read poems by writers whom Watteau inspired—notably Théophile Gautier, Albert Samain, Paul Verlaine, and Marcel Proust—along with other works that provide a brief anthology of French poetry from François Villon (1431–ca. 1463) to René Char (1907–1988).

As he reads in French, the original text of the poems and their English translation will be projected on a screen so the audience can follow along.

This event is presented in conjunction with the exhibition “Watteau, Music, and Theater,” September 22–November 29, 2009.

The exhibition is made possible by The Florence Gould Foundation.

Official Website: http://www.metmuseum.org/tickets