Art Historian Leo Steinberg Dies at 90, Remembered for Groundbreaking Works on Renaissance and Modern Art
Leo Steinberg, a prominent art historian and critic, passed away in New York at the age of 90. Originally from Soviet Russia, he later moved to Berlin and London, where he began his studies at the Slade School of Fine Art at just sixteen. Following World War II, he settled in Manhattan and obtained a PhD from New York University in 1960, focusing on Baroque architect Francesco Borromini. Steinberg wrote notable works such as "Other Criteria: Confrontations With Twentieth-Century Art" (1972) and "The Sexuality of Christ in Renaissance Art and in Modern Oblivion" (1983). His 1968 lecture critiqued Clement Greenberg's formalism. Renowned for his engaging lectures and thorough preparation, he contributed significantly to Renaissance and Baroque art discussions. Tributes from Laurie Schneider Adams and David Carrier underscore his influence on art criticism and history.
Key facts
- Leo Steinberg died in New York at age 90
- He was born in Soviet Russia and moved to Berlin, London, and later Manhattan
- He studied art at the Slade School of Fine Art in London at age 16
- He earned a PhD from New York University in 1960 with a dissertation on Francesco Borromini
- His major works include "Other Criteria: Confrontations With Twentieth-Century Art" (1972) and "The Sexuality of Christ in Renaissance Art and in Modern Oblivion" (1983)
- In "The Sexuality of Christ," he examined the depiction of Christ Child's genitalia in Renaissance art
- His 1968 lecture "Other Criteria" challenged Clement Greenberg's formalism and discussed postmodernists like Jasper Johns, Robert Rauschenberg, and Andy Warhol
- He wrote articles on Caravaggio, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci, emphasizing site-specific analysis
Entities
Artists
- Leo Steinberg
- Laurie Schneider Adams
- David Carrier
- Clement Greenberg
- Jasper Johns
- Robert Rauschenberg
- Andy Warhol
- Michelangelo
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Caravaggio
- Francesco Borromini
- Guercino
- Pablo Picasso
- Sigmund Freud
Institutions
- Slade School of Fine Art
- New York University
- The Art Bulletin
- October
Locations
- New York
- Soviet Russia
- Berlin
- London
- Manhattan
- Rome
- Italy