Some in the city’s cultural world wondered on Thursday if Mr. Finkelpearl was unfairly taking the fall for these missteps, perhaps in an effort to shift accountability away from Ms. McCray.

Asked in a news conference on Thursday to elaborate on his reasons for parting ways with Mr. Finkelpearl, Mr. de Blasio said: “I’m just not going into the day-to-day inner workings. Personnel matters are personnel matters. They are treated with respect and discretion.”

A mild-mannered, by-the-book administrator, Mr. Finkelpearl often seemed ill-suited for a job that required political savvy and occasional brass knuckles. Jimmy Van Bramer of Queens, chairman of the City Council committee that oversees cultural affairs, in hearings would urge Mr. Finkelpearl to take the gloves off. “I called on him to be a more public and forceful advocate on behalf of the community,” Mr. Van Bramer said. “I would say, ‘Don’t you agree that we need more funding for culture and the arts?’ And he would never say yes. I would have to ask him the question 10 different ways, but he wasn’t getting out in front of the mayor, which I respect. That’s his job. He knows who he works for.”

Mr. Finkelpearl had been reluctant to take on the commissioner position in the first place. Having just completed a major renovation at the Queens Museum as its longtime president and executive director, he was loath to abandon that institution just when the doors had reopened.

Nevertheless, after accepting the job, Mr. Finkelpearl became a loyal soldier. “He has led with character, integrity and humility and the city owes him a debt of gratitude,” said Darren Walker, the president of the Ford Foundation. “He should be taking a bow.”

In light of that performance, some city officials expressed exasperation on Thursday about what they assumed was Mr. de Blasio’s decision to cut him loose. “What did Tom do wrong?” asked one such official. “I don’t see what he did to merit this inglorious departure.”