The Curator Who Humanized Michelangelo, ‘Il Divino’

An exclusive interview with Carmen Bambach at The Met

Carmen Bambach, curator of Italian and Spanish drawings at The Metropolitan Museum of Arts with "Studies for the Libyan Sibyl (recto)," circa 1510–1511, by Michelangelo Buonarroti (1475–1564) in the study room for drawings and prints at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, on March 13, 2018. Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times

NEW YORK—She brought Michelangelo to the center stage of arts and culture for 91 days with the “Michelangelo: Divine Draftsman and Designer” exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Long after the curtain closed on Feb. 12, the applause for “Il Divino,” as the artist is called, continues.

Dr. Carmen Bambach, the curator and organizer of the exhibition, was not surprised that more than 700,000 people visited the exhibition. It was the 10th most popular exhibition ever held at The Met in its 148-year history. “Michelangelo was a rock star of the year!” Bambach said, smiling in her office, surrounded by books and documents.

The "Michelangelo: Divine Draftsman & Designer" exhibition at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York on Feb. 12, 2018. Benjamin Chasteen/The Epoch Times