Conservation of Easel Paintings

Do you want to make a difference in the care of cultural heritage, and preserve it for the future? Would you enjoy a career that combines your strong practical and manual skills with a deep intellectual understanding of paintings both in terms of art history and material science?

The MA in the Conservation of Easel Paintings is a 3-year full-time programme which will prepare you for a professional career. Its interdisciplinary nature combines art history, fine arts and the natural sciences. Applicants usually have a BA or equivalent degree in any of these subjects.

Conservation of Easel paintings at the Courtauld Institute offers the opportunity for a rigorous theoretical training that is constantly accompanied by the opportunity to put learning into practice.  From the very first weeks of study, students are immersed in practical  work   in  our Somerset House  studios and  labs , at first by the creation of replica paintings, and quickly moving to the closely supervised treatment of paintings from public and private collections in the UK.   With access to cutting edge scientific equipment, students learn to carry out imaging and analysis that helps them to understand the materials and making of paintings. Over three years, students build a portfolio of treatment and research that allows them to apply for diverse careers in museums, research institutes and private sector conservation studios and labs, or to continue studying at PhD level.  This course attracts an international student body, with a yearly intake limited to six students. which makes the teacher student ratio exceptionally high.  In-person lea r ning  makes up between  4  and  4 .5  days per  week  in both semester 1 and 2.

The degree is taught by specialists in paintings conservation, technical art history and conservation science, with many years of collective experience of working in the conservation sector. This sector knowledge informs the teaching, which is tailored to the evolving needs of the profession, with the aim of producing highly employable graduates. The programme excels in developing conservators with research and critical skills that allow them to flourish in a wide range of challenging careers.

Theoretical classes are delivered in small group seminars, and each year group is based in their own studio for practical work, sharing additional facilities for photographic imaging, scientific analysis, and specialist structural treatments.

The strong practical and intellectual focus of the degree is reflected in courses designed to build on knowledge and to develop both practical and decision-making skills underpinned by ethical and scientific principles.