James Lord

James Lord (November 27, 1922 – August 23, 2009) was an American writer. He was the author of several books, including critically acclaimed biographies of Alberto Giacometti and Pablo Picasso. He graduated from Englewood School for Boys (now Dwight-Englewood School) in 1940.

Lord attended Wesleyan University, though he never earned a degree. He served in the United States Army during World War II and was part of the Ritchie Boys who specialized in Military Intelligence. Following the liberation of Paris, he remained in the city and gained entry into the artistic circles of Montparnasse. He developed acquaintances with figures such as Jean Cocteau, Dora Maar, Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas.

He wrote about his wartime experiences in his book, My Queer War which discusses keeping his homosexuality carefully hidden.

Lord died of a heart attack in Paris, at the age of 86.

These notes and photographs became the basis for Lord's 1965 book, A Giacometti Portrait. The book chronicles the creation of the artwork and the artist's psychological state. Giacometti's brother, Diego Giacometti, wrote a prologue for the volume, stating that the text captured his brother's spirit.

Following the publication of the memoir, Lord spent fifteen years researching and writing a comprehensive biography of Giacometti. Despite his extensive work on the artist's legacy, Lord was prevented from purchasing the original portrait for which he had sat. Giacometti's widow, Annette, blocked the purchase, angered by the intimacies revealed in Lord's writings which she felt distorted her husband's image.

In popular culture The 2017 movie Final Portrait retells the story of his friendship with the painter Alberto Giacometti. Lord is played by Armie Hammer.

Selected bibliography Biographies and novels

Essays