William E. Wallace

William E. Wallace is the Chair of Art History and Archaeology and Barbara Murphy Bryant Distinguished Professor of Art History at Washington University in St. Louis. He holds a Ph.D. in Art History from Columbia University (1983). His research focuses on 14th-18th century Italian art and architecture, with specialization in Michelangelo and Renaissance studies. He has authored eight books on Michelangelo, including Michelangelo: The Artist, the Man and his Times (2010) and a recent book Michelangelo, God’s Architect: The Story of His Final Years and Greatest Masterpiece (2019).

Wallace’s academic contributions span over 90 essays/chapters, BBC television consulting, and a 36-lecture series on Michelangelo. His 2021 article in the Art Bulletin examines Michelangelo’s late creative period. Awards include fellowships at Villa I Tatti (Florence) and the American Academy in Rome. He advises on art-related media projects and maintains an active research agenda on Renaissance art and architectural history.