postgraduate
postgraduate diploma in the
conservation of easel paintings
This three-year course is open to graduates in art, art history or the natural sciences, and has an enrolment of five students per year. In the first year, in addition to the practical work, students take lecture courses covering painting and conservation methods and materials, as well as lectures in the techniques of scientific examination.
There is a basic science course (for arts graduates) or a prescribed selection of art history lectures (for science graduates). At the end of the year, students must have achieved a satisfactory standard in their practical work and passed examinations in the lecture courses in order to continue.
The second year of the course is essentially devoted to practical conservation. There is also a series of specialised lectures, seminars and visits that occupy one day per week.
In the third year, one term is devoted to a research topic on some aspects of conservation or artists’ materials and techniques, and the other two terms to practical conservation. The award of the Institute’s Diploma is based on the examination of all aspects of the student’s practical conservation, and of the dissertation.
The conservation of paintings is an inter-disciplinary subject. The course aims to educate reflective, professional practitioners able to contribute to the many different aspects of the profession, including interventive conservation practice, preventive conservation and collections management, conservation science and conservation research. The course structure is responsive both to professional requirements and individual interests.
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