Training in the Conservation of Paintings - Calouste Gulbenkian ...

INTRODUCTORY
(e) Restorer - one who undertakes some or all of the processes as
defined above.
(f) Trainee restorer - one who is under training in the restoration
of paintings, and drawings whether at a museum, gallery or institute
or as an apprentice to a private practitioner, and is receiving
a salary.
(g) Student - one under training in the restoration of paintings at
a recognised educational establishment, and supported by a LEA
or DES grant or by private means.
(h) Qualifying year - in which the prospective trainee is introduced
to the craft and assessed for aptitude, manual dexterity and
inclination.
(i) Basic course - two years training, not to be regarded as a full
restorer's training.
(j) Advanced course - four/five years training leading to a final
award as a qualified restorer.
Recommendations
7. We shall recommend that a national centre of conservation,
grant-aided by the State, should be set up; and that it should be
charged with the following functions:
(a) conservation and restoration of paintings and drawings from
public and private collections, supplementing but not replacing
the conservation and scientific departments in public museums
and galleries;
(b) training in the conservation and restoration of paintings and
drawings;
(e) research into the scientific and technical problems and implications
of conservation, and maintenance of records of conservation
work;
(d) dissemination and publication of information concerning conservation.
8. We recognise that in recommending an institute with the functions
at (a), (e) and (d) we are travelling beyond our terms of reference
which referred only to (b) training. The reason is that the
greater part, especially of the latter years, of a restorer's training
cannot be given elsewhere than in a first class workshop whose prime
concern is the actual conservation of works of art of high quality and
adequate variety, and we regard the inclusion of this and the other
functions as essential to a central training institute.
ii