Thomas P. F. Hoving

Thomas P. F. Hoving
Name	Thomas P. F. Hoving
Birth date	15 January 1931
Birth place	New York City, New York, U.S.
Death date	10 December 2009
Death place	New York City, New York, U.S.
Education	Princeton University (B.A., M.A., Ph.D.)
Occupation	Museum director, curator, author
Known for	Director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Spouse	Nancy Bell

Thomas P. F. Hoving was an influential and often controversial American museum director who served as the director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art from 1967 to 1977. A charismatic and ambitious leader, he transformed the institution into a dynamic, blockbuster-oriented cultural powerhouse, dramatically increasing its attendance, endowment, and physical footprint. His tenure was marked by spectacular acquisitions, high-profile exhibitions, and significant debates over museum ethics, the antiquities trade, and the role of public institutions.

Early life and education

Born into a prominent family in New York City, his father, Walter Hoving, was the longtime chairman of the luxury department store Tiffany & Co.. He attended the Buckley School and later Hotchkiss School before enrolling at Princeton University. At Princeton, he earned his bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in art history, studying under renowned scholars like Erwin Panofsky. His doctoral dissertation focused on the twelfth-century ivory cross known as the Bury St Edmunds Cross, establishing his early expertise in medieval art.

Career at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Hoving joined the staff of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1959 as a curatorial assistant in the Medieval Art department. His energy and eye for acquisition quickly propelled him through the ranks, and in 1965, he was appointed New York City's Commissioner of Parks by Mayor John Lindsay. In this role, he revitalized public spaces like Central Park, initiating events such as the "Hoving in the Park" festivals. He returned to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1966 as a special assistant to Director James Rorimer, succeeding him the following year.

Directorship of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

As director, Hoving pursued an aggressive policy of expansion and popularization, famously declaring he wanted to make the museum a "living organism." He oversaw the construction of major wings, including the Robert Lehman Wing, the Sackler Wing which houses the Temple of Dendur, and the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing. He pioneered the era of the "blockbuster exhibition," with shows like "The Treasures of Tutankhamun" drawing unprecedented crowds. Under his leadership, the museum's annual attendance doubled, and its endowment quadrupled.

Controversies and acquisitions

Hoving's directorship was defined by both triumphant acquisitions and ethical firestorms. He masterminded the purchase of the famed ancient Greek vase, the Euphronios Krater, from Robert Hecht, a deal that later became emblematic of controversies surrounding looted antiquities. Other major acquisitions included Juan de Pareja by Diego Velázquez and Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emanuel Leutze. His aggressive deaccessioning practices—selling items from the collection to fund new purchases—sparked intense debate, leading to hearings by the New York State Attorney General and new guidelines from the American Alliance of Museums.

Later career and writings

After leaving the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Hoving became an editor for *Connoisseur* magazine and a prolific author. He wrote several bestselling books that blended art history with insider narratives, including *King of the Confessors*, detailing his pursuit of the Bury St Edmunds Cross, and *Making the Mummies Dance*, a candid memoir of his tumultuous tenure at the museum. He also served as an on-air consultant for the PBS series *Mystery!* and was a frequent commentator on the art world.

Personal life and legacy

He was married to Nancy Bell Hoving, a respected medieval art historian and curator, and they had one daughter. Hoving died in Manhattan in 2009 from lung cancer. His legacy is that of a transformative, polarizing force who reshaped the modern museum, moving it from a quiet temple of scholarship to a vibrant, sometimes combative, center of public spectacle. His practices and the debates they ignited continue to influence discussions on museum ethics, cultural patrimony, and institutional ambition.

Category:American museum directors Category:Metropolitan Museum of Art people Category:2009 deaths