Rising through the ranks from his first job as a graduate, Sir Michael Levey became Director of the National Gallery in 1973.
Born on 8 June 1927, Levey completed his school days at the Oratory School. He then spent time in the army before continuing his studies at Oxford University.
After graduation, Levey secured the position of Assistant Keeper at the National Gallery in 1951. Rising through the ranks, he became Deputy Keeper in 1966, Keeper in 1968 and finally succeeded Martin Davies as Director in October 1973. Levey continued as Director until the end of 1986.
In addition to his career at the National Gallery, Levey was also a prolific writer on a wide range of subjects, enjoying spells as Slade Professor of Fine Art at Cambridge from 1963–1964 and Slade Professor of Fine Art at Oxford from 1994–1995. He died on 28 December 2008.
