{{Short description|English art historian, curator and writer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}} {{Use British English|date=July 2015}} {{Infobox writer | name = Michael Peppiatt | birth_date = {{birth date and age text|9 October 1941}} | birth_place = Wycombe, Buckinghamshire | occupation = Writer and art historian | alma_mater = University of Cambridge | genre = | website = {{URL|michaelpeppiatt.com}} }}
'''Michael Henry Peppiatt'''<ref>The Cambridge University List of Members up to 31 July 1998, Cambridge University Press, 1998, p. 613</ref> (born 9 October 1941) is an English art historian, curator and writer.
==Biography== Son of Edward George Peppiatt (died 1983), B.Sc., ARCS, of Silver Birches, Stocking Pelham, near Buntingford, Hertfordshire, technical and production director for a pharmaceutical manufacturing company,<ref>Who's Who of British Scientists, Ohio University Press, 1965, p. 1165</ref> and Elsa Eugénie (née Schlaich; died 1997).<ref>Debrett's People of Today, Debrett's Peerage Ltd, 1995, pp. 1218, 1561; 2017, p. 2400</ref>
=== Education and career === Michael Peppiatt studied at Brentwood School, Essex, at the University of Göttingen, and at Trinity Hall, Cambridge (BA 1964, MA 1985, PhD)<ref>The Cambridge University List of Members up to 31 July 1998, Cambridge University Press, 1998, p. 613</ref><ref>Debrett's People of Today, Debrett's Peerage Ltd, 2017, p. 2400</ref> and subsequently joined ''The Observer'' as a junior art critic. He then went to Paris to take up an editorial job at ''Réalités'' magazine, where he remained until 1969, when he was appointed arts editor at ''Le Monde''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bio|url=http://www.michaelpeppiatt.com/biography/|website=Michael Peppiatt|accessdate=6 July 2016}}</ref> In the mid-1970s he began reporting on cultural events across Europe for ''The New York Times'' and ''The Financial Times'', becoming Paris correspondent for several art magazines, notably ''Art News'' and ''Art International''. In 1985, Peppiatt became owner and editor of ''Art International'',<ref>{{cite web|title=Bio|url=http://yalebooks.co.uk/author_display.asp?sf1=name_exact&st1=MICHAELPEPPIATT&DS=Michael%20Peppiatt|website=Yale Books|accessdate=6 July 2016}}</ref> which he relaunched from Paris, devoting special issues to the artists he most admired.
In 1994, Peppiatt returned to London with his wife, the art historian Jill Lloyd, and their two children, where he wrote the biography of Francis Bacon (1909–1992), whose close friend and commentator he had been for thirty years. Chosen as a "Book of the Year"<ref>{{cite web |title=Francis Bacon in the 1950s |publisher=Yale University Press | url=http://yalepress.yale.edu/yupbooks/book.asp?isbn=9780300121926 |date=18 December 2006}}</ref> by ''The New York Times'' and translated into several languages, the biography is considered the definitive account of Bacon's life and work.
Peppiatt has curated numerous exhibitions worldwide, notably travelling retrospectives of the School of London, Francis Bacon, Alberto Giacometti, Christian Schad and Antoni Tàpies. In 2009, Peppiatt curated an exhibition of sculpture by Dado for the Venice Biennale,<ref>{{cite web|title=2009 Pavilion MONTENEGRO : Dado. The Zorzi Elegies|url=http://www.unesco.org/new/en/venice/about-this-office/single-view/news/2009_pavilion_montenegro_dado_the_zorzi_elegies-1/#.V30lOuYrIxg|website=Unesco|accessdate=6 July 2016}}</ref> a Maillol retrospective for Barcelona,<ref>{{cite web|title=Exhibitions|url=http://www.michaelpeppiatt.com/exhibitions/|website=Michael Peppiatt|accessdate=6 July 2016}}</ref> and a Caravaggio-Bacon exhibit for the Galleria Borghese in Rome.<ref>{{cite web|title=Credits|url=http://caravaggio-bacon.diecigrandimostre.it/credits.htm|website=Caravaggio-Bacon|accessdate=6 July 2016}}</ref>
In 2005, Peppiatt was awarded a Ph.D by the University of Cambridge for his publications on 20th-century art. He is a member of the Society of Authors and the Royal Society of Literature, and since 2010 he has been on the board of the Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome.
In 2012, Peppiatt published ''Interviews with Artists'', a book of more than forty interviews with personalities ranging from Jean Dubuffet, Balthus, and Oscar Niemeyer to Brassai, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Antoni Tàpies.<ref>{{cite web | author=Talitha Stevenson| title= Interviews with Artists, 1966‑2012 by Michael Peppiatt – review|newspaper=The Observer | url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/apr/01/interviews-with-artists-peppiatt-review |date=31 March 2012}}</ref> An exhibition on this theme was shown at Eykyn Maclean in London.
Peppiatt curated a Miró exhibition that travelled from the Bucerius Kunst Forum in Hamburg to the Kunstsammlung, Düsseldorf, in 2014–15.<ref>{{cite web|title=Exhibitions|url=http://www.michaelpeppiatt.com/exhibitions/|website=Michael Peppiatt|accessdate=6 July 2016}}</ref> Peppiatt's latest memoir, ''Francis Bacon in Your Blood'', was published by Bloomsbury in August 2015.<ref>{{cite web|title=Francis Bacon in Your Blood|url=http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/francis-bacon-in-your-blood-9781408856246/|website=Bloomsbury Publishing|accessdate=6 July 2016}}</ref> In 2018, Peppiatt curated the exhibition ''Bacon/Giacometti'' at the Beyeler Foundation, Switzerland. In 2022, Peppiatt curated the exhibition, ''Francis Bacon: Man and Beast'', at the Royal Academy of Arts, London. The exhibition charts the development of Bacon's work through the lens of his fascination with animals and its impact on his treatment of the human figure.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://www.emergentmag.com/exhibitions/francis-bacon-at-the-royal-academy-of-arts| title = Francis Bacon: Man and Beast, Royal Academy of Arts, 29 January – 17 April, 2022|date = 29 January 2022|access-date = 18 July 2022| website = emergentmag.com}}</ref>
Peppiatt serves on the advisory council of the UK Friends of the National Museum of Women in the Arts.<ref name="ukfriendsaboutus">{{cite web|title=About Us|url=http://www.ukfriendsofnmwa.org/about-us/committees/|website=UK Friends of the National Museum of Women in the Arts|accessdate=13 April 2016}}</ref> He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dr Michael Peppiatt |url=https://www.sal.org.uk/our-fellows/directory/dr-michael-peppiatt/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Society of Antiquaries of London |language=en-GB}}</ref> and the Royal Historical Society.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Current Fellows & Members {{!}} RHS |url=https://royalhistsoc.org/membership/rhs-fellows-and-members/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=royalhistsoc.org}}</ref>
==Bibliography== *1964: ''Modern Art in Britain'' *1976: ''Francis Bacon: l’art de l’impossible'' (trans. with Michel Leiris) *1983: ''Imagination’s Chamber: Artists and their Studios'' (with Alice Bellony Rewald)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Imagination's Chamber: Artists and Their Studios|url=https://bookpatrol.net/product/imaginations-chamber-artists-and-their-studios/|access-date=2021-12-25|website=Book Patrol|language=en-US}}</ref> *1987: ''The School of London'' *1997: ''Francis Bacon: Anatomy of an Enigma''<ref>{{Cite book|last=Peppiatt|first=Michael|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ukJRPgAACAAJ|title=Francis Bacon: Anatomy of an Enigma|date=1997|publisher=Phoenix Giant|isbn=978-0-7538-0248-9|language=en}}</ref> *2000: ''Zoran Music''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Zoran Music. Introduction and interview by Michael Peppiatt. Sainsbury Centre of Visual Arts, 8 February 23 April 2000. by MUSIC, ZORAN.: Fine Paperback (2000) First edition {{!}} Roe and Moore|url=https://www.abebooks.com/first-edition/Zoran-Music-Introduction-interview-Michael-Peppiatt/4235316825/bd|access-date=2021-12-25|website=www.abebooks.com|language=en}}</ref> *2001: ''Alberto Giacometti in Post-War Paris''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alberto Giacometti in Postwar Paris {{!}} Yale University Press|url=https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300092424/alberto-giacometti-postwar-paris|access-date=2021-12-25|website=yalebooks.yale.edu}}</ref> *2002: ''Aristide Maillol''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Aristide Maillol|url=https://www.ivam.es/en/exposiciones/aristide-maillol/|access-date=2021-12-25|website=Ivam|language=en-US}}</ref> *2003: ''Christian Schad and the Neue Sachlichkeit'' (ed. with Jill Lloyd)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Christian Schad and the Neue Sachlichkeit : Jill Lloyd : 9780393324778|url=https://www.bookdepository.com/Christian-Schad-Neue-Sachlichkeit-Jill-Lloyd/9780393324778|access-date=2021-12-25|website=www.bookdepository.com}}</ref> *2003: ''Dans l’atelier de Giacometti''<ref>{{Cite book|last=Leslibraires.fr|url=https://www.leslibraires.fr/livre/64991-dans-l-atelier-de-giacometti-michael-peppiatt-echoppe|title=Dans l'Atelier de Giacometti - Michael Peppiatt - Echoppe|language=fr}}</ref> *2003: ''Vincent van Gogh'' *2004: ''Francis Bacon: le sacré et le profane''<ref>{{Cite web|title=FRANCIS BACON LE SACRE ET LE PROFANE by Peppiatt, Michael: Near Fine Paperback (2004) First edition. {{!}} Lost Horizon Bookstore|url=https://www.abebooks.co.uk/first-edition/FRANCIS-BACON-SACRE-PROFANE-Peppiatt-Michael/10830395470/bd|access-date=2021-12-25|website=www.abebooks.co.uk|language=en-GB}}</ref> *2006: ''L’amitié Leiris-Bacon: Une étrange fascination''<ref>{{Cite book|last=Saisons|first=Librairie Les|url=https://lessaisons.fr/livre/124624-l-amitie-leiris-bacon-une-etrange-fascination-michael-peppiatt-echoppe|title=L' Amitie Leiris Bacon, Une Étrange Fascination - Michael Peppiatt - Echoppe|language=fr}}</ref> *2006: ''Francis Bacon in the 1950s'' *2006: ''Les dilemmes de Jean Dubuffet''<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://halldulivre.com/livre/9782840681878-les-dilemmes-de-jean-dubuffet-entretiens-michael-peppiatt/|title=Les dilemmes de Jean Dubuffet : entretiens - Michael Peppiatt - L'echoppe - Grand format - Le Hall du Livre NANCY|language=fr}}</ref> *2007: ''Van Gogh and Expressionism'' (ed. with Jill Lloyd) *2008 ''Francis Bacon in the 1950s'' *2008: ''Francis Bacon: Studies for a Portrait''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Francis Bacon: Studies for a Portrait: Essays and Interviews {{!}} Francis Bacon|url=https://www.francis-bacon.com/publication/francis-bacon-studies-portrait-essays-and-interviews|access-date=2021-12-25|website=www.francis-bacon.com}}</ref> *2008: ''Francis Bacon: Anatomy of an Enigma'' (revised edition)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Francis Bacon: Anatomy of an Enigma {{!}} Francis Bacon|url=https://www.francis-bacon.com/publication/francis-bacon-anatomy-enigma|access-date=2021-12-25|website=www.francis-bacon.com}}</ref> *2009: ''Caravaggio/Bacon''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Caravaggio Bacon {{!}} Francis Bacon|url=https://www.francis-bacon.com/publication/caravaggio-bacon|access-date=2021-12-25|website=www.francis-bacon.com}}</ref> *2010: ''In Giacometti's Studio''<ref>{{Cite web|title=In Giacometti's Studio|url=https://www.studiointernational.com/index.php/in-giacometti-s-studio|access-date=2021-12-25|website=www.studiointernational.com}}</ref> *2010: ''Alberto Giacometti: An Intimate Portrait''<ref>{{Cite web|title=In Giacometti's Studio - an Intimate Portrait - New York - Exhibitions - Eykyn Maclean|url=https://www.eykynmaclean.com/exhibitions/in-giacomettis-studio-an-intimate-portrait|access-date=2021-12-25|website=www.eykynmaclean.com|language=en}}</ref> *2012: ''Interviews with Artists (1966–2012)''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Stevenson|first=Talitha|date=2012-03-31|title=Interviews with Artists, 1966‑2012 by Michael Peppiatt – review|url=http://www.theguardian.com/books/2012/apr/01/interviews-with-artists-peppiatt-review|access-date=2021-12-25|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> *2013: ''Giacometti and Sartre: A Double Portrait''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Forum|first=Bucerius Kunst|title=Exhibitions {{!}} Bucerius Kunst Forum|url=https://www.buceriuskunstforum.de/en/exhibitions/alberto-giacometti-encounters,%20/en/exhibitions/alberto-giacometti-encounters|access-date=2021-12-25|website=www.buceriuskunstforum.de|language=en}}</ref> *2014: ''Art Plural: Voices of Contemporary Art''<ref>{{Cite web|title=9789810784089: Art Plural: Voices of Contemporary Art - AbeBooks - Peppiatt, Michael; Peterson, Jane A.: 9810784082|url=https://www.abebooks.com/9789810784089/Art-Plural-Voices-Contemporary-Peppiatt-9810784082/plp|access-date=2021-12-25|website=www.abebooks.com|language=en}}</ref> *2014: ''Henri Cartier-Bresson'' *2014: ''Joan Miró: A Painter among Poets''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Miró. Malerei als Poesie (Hamburg, 12 Jun 14)|url=https://arthist.net/archive/7801|access-date=2021-12-25|website=arthist.net}}</ref> *2015: ''Francis Bacon In Your Blood: A Memoir''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Francis Bacon in your Blood: A Memoir {{!}} Francis Bacon|url=https://www.francis-bacon.com/publication/francis-bacon-your-blood-memoir|access-date=2021-12-25|website=www.francis-bacon.com}}</ref> *2017: ''David Hockney, Souvenirs'' *2019: ''The Existential Englishman''<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-01-20|title=The Existential Englishman: Paris Among the Artists – review|url=http://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/jan/20/the-existential-englishman-paris-among-the-artists-by-michael-peppiatt-review|access-date=2021-12-25|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> *2020: ''The Making of Modern Art: Selected Essays''<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Making of Modern Art by Michael Peppiatt|url=https://yalebooks.co.uk/display.asp?K=9780300246780|access-date=2021-12-25|website=Yale Books UK|language=en}}</ref> *2021: ''Francis Bacon: Studies for a Portrait'' (revised and enlarged edition)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Francis Bacon: Studies for a Portrait|url=https://thamesandhudson.com/francis-bacon-studies-for-a-portrait-9780500295854|access-date=2021-12-25|website=thamesandhudson.com|language=en}}</ref> *2021: ''Conversations avec Adrian Ghenie''<ref>{{Cite book|last=Peppiatt|first=Michael|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qd4SEAAAQBAJ&dq=Michael+Henry+Peppiatt+Bacon%2FGiacometti%3A+A+Dialogue&pg=PA17|title=Bacon/Giacometti: A Dialogue|date=2021-01-07|publisher=ERIS|isbn=978-1-912475-21-6|language=en}}</ref> *2021: ''Bacon/Giacometti: A Dialogue''<ref>{{Cite web|title=Event: Bacon / Giacometti. A Dialogue: by Michael Peppiatt|url=https://www.dellasposa.com/events/bacon-giacometti-dialogue/|access-date=2021-12-25|website=Dellasposa|language=en}}</ref> *2021: ''Francis Bacon: Man and Beast''<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/13820327 |title=Francis Bacon: Man and Beast |date=2021 |publisher=Royal Academy of Arts |isbn=978-1-912520-55-8 |editor-last=Peppiatt |editor-first=Michael |location=London |editor-last2=Testar |editor-first2=Anna |editor-last3=Lee |editor-first3=Sarah |editor-last4=Royal Academy of Arts (Great Britain)}}</ref> *2021: ''Only Too Much Is Enough: Francis Bacon In His Own Words''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bacon |first=Francis |title=Only Too Much Is Enough: Francis Bacon In His Own Words |publisher=Eris |year=2021 |isbn=978-1912475568 |editor-last=Peppiatt |editor-first=Michael |location=London}}</ref> *2023: ''Artists' Lives''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Peppiatt |first=Michael |title=Artists' Lives |publisher=Thames and Hudson |year=2023 |isbn=9780500021965 |edition=1st |location=London}}</ref> *2023: ''Giacometti in Paris''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Peppiatt |first=Michael |title=Giacometti in Paris |publisher=Bloomsbury |year=2023 |isbn=9781526600950 |edition=1st |location=London}}</ref> *2024: ''Francis Bacon:'' ''A Self-Portrait in Words''<ref>{{Cite book |last=Peppiatt |first=Michael |title=Francis Bacon: A Self-Portrait in Words |publisher=Thames and Hudson |year=2024 |isbn=9780500021866 |edition=1st |location=London}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Peppiatt, Michael}} Category:1941 births Category:Living people Category:Alumni of Trinity Hall, Cambridge Category:English art critics Category:English art historians Category:The New York Times journalists