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

TRAINING IN THE CONSERVATION OF PAINTINGS
ground subjects, especially art history, and for the elimination
of unsuitable students.
(3) Independent Restorers
We have not enquired into any arrangements which individual
independent restorers may make for accepting
fee-paying students.
Training on the Conservation of Drawings
59. Paper conservation forms part of the course at the Courtauld
Institute (paragraph 58 (b) (i) above); and part of the syllabus of a
two-year course in archive preservation and repair which was started
at the Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts in 1970 would be
relevant to the conservation of drawings. The Victoria and Albert
Museum's share in the Government Temporary Training Scheme
also includes a four-year traineeship in the conservation of watercolours.
The Print Room at the British Museum accepts students
from time to time for short periods in the conservation workshop
attached to that department.
Training in the Conservation of Mural Paintings
60. There is no formal course of training in the conservation of
mural paintings in the United Kingdom. The Department of the
Environment trains its own restorers as do the private restorers engaged
on this work. The Institute of Archaeology, University of
London, advises on the conservation of mural paintings from the
archaeological point of view. The three-month summer course for
foreigners run by the Istituto Centrale del Restauro in Rome, for the
Rome Centre, is open to British students of conservation.
Award of Proficiency
61. At present, on completeion of his training at any of the courses
described above, the trainee has nothing but the reputation of his
place of training as a general recommendation - and this is not the
case only in this country. There is, of course, no better recommendation
to a well informed prospective employer; but the owners of
paintings in need of restoration ought to be able to turn to a recognised
qualification as protection against untrained practitioners.
62. For the professional restorer of several years standing a valuable
international mark of respect from his fellow restorers is fellowship
of the International Institute of Conservation. This institute
has considered suggestions that it should give some more formal
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