Richard Brilliant, an art historian for the ages, passed away at the age of 94 on August 8, 2024 in New York City.

In electing Brilliant to membership (2005), the Academy of Arts and Sciences noted that he “transformed the field of classical art, opening it up to the new methods of historical and stylistic analysis.” His insights and critical thinking helped raise the awareness of Greek and Roman art to a new generation of students. He enjoyed mentoring students and took great pride in seeing many of his former students pursue significant careers in the field of classical art history.

Born in Boston, Massachusetts on November 20, 1929, Richard Brilliant attended Boston Latin School (1941-1947) and graduated from Yale College in 1951 with a B.A. in classical civilization. Brilliant attended Harvard Law School receiving his L.L.B. in 1954 before returning to Yale to pursue graduate studies in archaeology and art history. He was awarded an M.A. in 1956 and a Ph.D. in 1960.

Brilliant’s teaching career began in 1962 at the University of Pennsylvania where he became a full professor in 1969 and served as the Chairman of the Art History Department. In 1970, Brilliant joined the faculty at Columbia University as Professor of Art History and Archaeology and later was named the Anna S. Garbedian Professor in the Humanities. In 2004, Brilliant retired from full-time teaching and became Professor Emeritus.

Brilliant published eleven books, numerous articles and other publications, and received countless honors including a Fulbright scholarship for study in Italy (1957-1959), and a Rome Prize from the Academy in Rome (1960-1962) which resulted in a definitive published study of the Arch of Septimius Severus. Many of his books including The Arts of the Ancient Greeks (1973) and Roman Art from the Republic to Constantine (1974) have been widely used by generation of students, and his books on visual narratives and portraits influenced innovative approaches to art history. He was editor-in-chief of The Art Bulletin (1990-1996).

In 1951, just after graduating from Yale College, Brilliant married Eleanor Luria, who he first met at a summer camp when he was 12 years old. He is survived by his wife, Eleanor Brilliant, of 73 years and their four children, Stephanie (Stephen), Livia (Tom), Franca (Seth) and Myron Nady), twelve grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.

He was an avid cribbage player and a lifetime Boston Red Sox fan despite spending most of his life in New York.

Shiva will be held Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday night at the Brilliant family residence in New York City. Contributions in Richard Brilliant’s honor can be made to Avery Architectural and Memorial Library of Columbia University in New York City, or to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC.