Hot dog in hand, I entered Central Park from the American Museum of Natural History and wandered through the Ramble on my way to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I didn't dilly, or dally, though as I was on a mission. I was going to the museum to see the famous American painting by Emanuel Leutze of Washington Crossing the Delaware; when I was in New York City a little over a year previous I stopped at the Met only to find that it was not on display since the area was being renovated.

We...