It was as if central casting had sent over its A-list star for the role of museum director. But this was no mere actor that arrived at the Rienzi Society annual dinner Tuesday night. It was the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston's new director, Gary Tinterow, who would start in his post at the MFAH the following day.

Intelligent, charming and attractive, Tinterow, on this brief first meeting, displayed all the characteristics that one could — at least on the surface — hope for in an individual selected to head the highly-regarded MFAH.

He had just flown in from New York earlier in the day and the 12th annual Rienzi Society dinner was his first quasi-public outing for the museum.

Many in the gathering of 90 Rienzi patrons had already met Tinterow during the round of discreet socials the museum had held prior to his being officially named and prior to his official start date. Nevertheless, the ladies fawned over the pleasingly erudite gentleman, who sought to remain low-key on Gwen Goffe's final day as interim director.

Even without the Tinterow debut, the evening would have ranked as spectacular. Isla and Tommy Reckling and their life-long friends Rosslyn and Marshall Crawford chaired the intimate dinner that raised close to $216,000 for the acquisition of new treasures for the MFAH's house museum of European decorative arts and paintings.

Guests perused the home with its fine antiques and inspected the offerings for purchase that evening before finding their tables in the ballroom and in the gallery, both spaces rich with European treasures. The tables were set with fine china and crystal, the decor echoing the current Rienzi exhibition English Taste: The Art of Dining in the 18th Century.

It was a beautiful setting for the lavish five-course dinner that followed. With each course, the praise for Jackson & Co.'s culinary talents rose. Jackson Hicks was on hand to make sure that every aspect of the dinner was perfect and, indeed, it was. While guests dined, a roving pair of violinists entertained.

By night's end, guests had voted on which pieces of those on display they would like to purchase with that $216,000. Rienzi Collections subcommittee chair Cyvia Wolff smiled broadly when Rienzi director Katherine Howe announced that the 18th century gilded pier mirror had been selected and that remaining funds would be used for a later purchase.

Rienzi patrons savoring this intimate evening included MFAH board chair Cornelia Long and Meredith Long, Elise and James Reckling, Jeanie Kilroy, Christiana and Luke McConn, Windi and David Grimes, Michelle and Frank Hevrdejs, Sara White, Rose Cullen, Pat Breen, Judy and Rodney Margolis, Jas Gundry, Julia Frankel, Eddie Allen and Nancy Allen.