Dr. Richard Neer

Biography

Richard Neer is the Barbara E. and Richard J. Franke Distinguished Service Professor in the Department of Art History at the University of Chicago, where he also serves as College Director of the Franke Institute for Humanities. His scholarly work engages the intersection of aesthetics and the history of art, focusing on areas such as Classical archaeology, early modern French painting, and mid-twentieth century cinema, with a special interest in theories of style. Neer received his Ph.D. in History of Art from the University of California at Berkeley in 1998, and his undergraduate degree in Fine Arts from Harvard College in 1991. His significant publications include 'Emergence of Classical Style in Greek Sculpture,' which earned the title of 'Best Book' from Artforum in 2010, and 'Pindar, Song, Space: Lyric Archaeology' (co-authored with Leslie Kurke), which received the 2019 PROSE Award for Classical Studies from the Association of American Publishers. Neer has also published 'Painting as a Way of Life: Philosophy and Practice in French Art, 1620-1660,' which was nominated as 'Best Book' by Artforum for 2025. He has held fellowships at prestigious institutions such as the J. Paul Getty Museum and the American Academy in Rome, and served as the Executive Editor of 'Critical Inquiry' from 2010 to 2018.

Research Interests