Michael Levey

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This article is about the British art historian. For the American television personality, see Mike Levey

Sir Michael Vincent Levey LVO (born 1927) is a British art historian and former director of the National Gallery, London. Shortly after graduating from Exeter College, Oxford in 1950 he joined the National Gallery as an Assistant Keeper.

In 1954, he married the novelist and critic Brigid Brophy. Levey's approach to art history was already considered backward-looking by the 1960s, but he was nonetheless appointed Slade Professor of Fine Art at both Oxford (1963–64) and Cambridge (1994–95) universities. He served as Director of the National Gallery for 13 years, from 1973 to 1986. He relinquished his post there to care for his wife after she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1985, and which would ultimately claim her life.

In 1962, Levey wrote the book A Concise History of Painting: From Giotto to Cézanne for Thames & Hudson's World of Art series (ISBN 0-500-20024-6). This remains a classic overview of European art history from the introduction of perspective in Italy to the beginnings of modern art at the start of the 20th century.

Sir Michael Levey is a Distinguished Supporter of the British Humanist Association.

Preceded by Sir Martin Davies

Director of the National Gallery 1973–1986

Succeeded by Neil MacGregor