Claus Michael Kauffmann, FBA (5 February 1931 – 30 June 2023) was an English art historian who was Director of the

Courtauld Institute The Courtauld Institute of Art (), commonly referred to as The Courtauld, is a self-governing college of the University of London specialising in the study of the history of art and conservation. The art collection is known particularly for ...

, London, from 1985–95. He was succeeded by Eric Fernie. Kauffmann was a Fellow of the

British Academy The British Academy for the Promotion of Historical, Philosophical and Philological Studies is the United Kingdom's national academy for the humanities and the social sciences. It was established in 1902 and received its royal charter in the sa ...

. Kauffmann was born on 5 February 1931, and educated at Clitheroe Royal Grammar School and

St Paul's School, London St Paul's School is a Selective school, selective Private schools in the United Kingdom, independent day school (with limited boarding school, boarding) for boys aged 13–18, founded in 1509 by John Colet and located on a 43-acre site by Rive ...

, before matriculating at

Merton College, Oxford Merton College (in full: The House or College of Scholars of Merton in the University of Oxford) is a Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 126 ...

in 1950, where he read history. After graduation he took up a Junior Research Fellowship at the

Warburg Institute The Warburg Institute is a research institution associated with the University of London in central London, England. A member of the School of Advanced Study, its focus is the study of cultural history and the role of images in culture – cros ...

, completing his PhD in the History of Art in 1957. He then held posts at the Warburg Institute,

Manchester City Art Gallery Manchester Art Gallery, formerly Manchester City Art Gallery, is a publicly owned art museum on Mosley Street in Manchester city centre, England. The main gallery premises were built for a learned society in 1823 and today its collection occupi ...

, and the

Victoria and Albert Museum The Victoria and Albert Museum (abbreviated V&A) in London is the world's largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.8 million objects. It was founded in 1852 and named after Queen ...

. He was one of the founding trustees on the creation of National Museums Liverpool in 1986. Michael Kauffmann was a son of Arthur Kauffmann, and married Dorothea Hill in 1954. He died on 30 June 2023, at the age of 92.Professor Michael Kauffmann FBA (1931-2023)

The Courtauld Institute of Art The Courtauld Institute of Art (), commonly referred to as The Courtauld, is a self-governing college of the University of London specialising in the study of the history of art and conservation. The art collection is known particularly for ...

, 6 July 2023, accessed 8 July 2023

Selected publications

*''The Baths of Pozzuoli. A study of the medieval illuminations of Peter of Eboli's poem'', Bruno Cassirer, Oxford, 1959. *''The Legend of St. Ursula. survey based on the painting “The Martyrdom of St. Ursula and the Eleven Thousand Virgins” in the Victoria and Albert Museum and other works. With reproductions.',

Victoria & Albert Museum The Victoria and Albert Museum (abbreviated V&A) in London is the world's largest museum of applied arts, decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 2.8 million objects. It was founded in 1852 and named after Queen ...

, London, 1964. *''The Barbizon school'', Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 1965. *''Paintings at Apsley House'', Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 1965. *''An altar-piece of the Apocalypse from Master Bertram's Workshop in Hamburg'', Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 1968. *''Romanesque MSS 1066-1190'', Harvey Miller, London, 1975. *''Paintings, water-colours and miniatures'', Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 1978. *''John Varley: 1778-1842'', Batsford in association with the Victoria & Albert Museum, 1984. *''Biblical imagery in medieval England 700-1550'', Harvey Miller Publishers, London, 2002.

References

1931 births 2023 deaths Directors of the Courtauld Institute of Art English art historians Fellows of the Society of Antiquaries of London People associated with the Victoria and Albert Museum Fellows of the British Academy Alumni of Merton College, Oxford {{UK-art-historian-stub