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Neil MacGregor

(1946-), Art historian; Director of the British Museum

(Robert) Neil MacGregor

Sitter in 3 portraits
Macgregor began his career as a lecturer in the History of Art and Architecture at the University of Reading in 1975. Editor of the Burlington Magazine from 1981 until 1987, he masterminded its transfer from the Thompson's Newspaper empire to an independent and charitable status. As Director of the National Gallery (1987-2002) he oversaw the opening of the Sainsbury Wing and a complete rehang of the collection. He became a household name in 2000 when he presented the BBC series with the same title as his exhibition Seeing Salvation, which examined images of Christ in Western Art. Macgregor was Director of the British Museum from 2002 to 2015. He is currently founding-director of the Humboldt Forum in Berlin.

Watch a film clip on the sitter from the BBC Archive in the Media section below

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Neil MacGregor, by Lucy Anne Dickens - NPG P948(26)

Neil MacGregor

by Lucy Anne Dickens
C-type colour print, April 2001
NPG P948(26)

Neil MacGregor, by Wolfgang Tillmans - NPG P2078

Neil MacGregor

by Wolfgang Tillmans
inkjet print on paper mounted on aluminium in artist’s frame, printed 2018 (October 2015)
NPG P2078

'Early morning visit from Neil MacGregor' (Lucian Freud; Neil MacGregor), by David Dawson - NPG x126310

'Early morning visit from Neil MacGregor' (Lucian Freud; Neil MacGregor)

by David Dawson
C-type colour print, 2002
NPG x126310

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