Boston's Museum Of Fine Arts Turns 150, Celebrates Monet's 'Lasting Impression'

I begged her. But Ann Hoenigswald was resolute. The National Gallery of Art's Senior Conservator of Paintings (now retired) is a dedicated museum professional. Also she knew I'd blab it to everyone. So, firmly and very sweetly, she smiled and said, "No."

We were — a fascinating place I love to visit. That day years ago, on her easel, was Claude Monet's Unframed, just sitting on the easel as if the Impressionist master had left maybe an hour earlier, parking his palette and brushes on the table.