Conservation fellowships (Lindsay and Gavron)

Location: London

Develop your experience in painting conservation through supervised restoration and structural repair work.

The National Gallery is an art museum in Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, in Central London, England. Founded in 1824, it houses a collection of over 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900. The National Gallery is looking for two Conservation Fellows – the Robert Gavron Conservation Fellow, and the Patrick Lindsay Conservation Fellow. This is an extraordinary opportunity to gain conservation experience with a national collection of paintings.

The role

The primary focus of the role will be practical studio work; the Fellows will undertake closely supervised work in the cleaning and restoration and the structural repair of paintings. In addition, the jobholders will play a role in the documentation and examination of loans to and from the Gallery. There will also be the opportunity to become involved in the preventive conservation function of the department, as well as research on assigned conservation projects, working in collaboration with the Scientific and Curatorial Departments; and assisting colleagues on treatments of painting where necessary.

Scope of job

• The cleaning, restoration and structural repair of paintings in the collection.
• To play a role in the preventive conservation of the collection.
• To participate in research into paintings undergoing treatment and in the technical examination of other works, including those being catalogued by curators
• Participate in the maintenance of the department’s records.
• Examination on the condition of both National Gallery paintings and external loans as they arrive and depart the Gallery.
• Produce clear, well -constructed and comprehensive reports and to record and document conservation treatments and produce condition reports for loans.
• To undertake courier duties escorting loans of paintings from the collection to and from exhibitions.

Key required skills and attributes

• Basic experience in the interpretation of X -radiographs, infrared reflectograms and other forms of technical photography
• A well -developed visual and intellectual sensibility to paintings and a strong interest in their technique and conservation.
• Ability to synthesize technical, historical, and aesthetic information in the formulation of treatment strategies or approaches
• Knowledge of pigment identification, interpretation of cross sections and analysis of organic natural products
• Strong attention to detail; for restoring and conserving paintings
• Motivated; maintains focus to see tasks through to the end
• Flexible approach to cope with changes in circumstances
• Engaging; Engages members of different departments

The fellowships are each full time, fixed-term contracts for up to 22 months. For more details on the role, please read the job pack on our website.

We welcome and encourage applications from candidates who are under-represented in the creative industries.

Please make sure that you state in your application that you found this role via Creative Access.