Internships at the Hamilton Kerr Institute

Internships are offered for up to two years in the conservation of
paintings.  The internship will include tuition in techniques
employed at the Institute, working in group projects and working
under supervision on individual projects.  Interns are also
encouraged to pursue research related to the projects they
undertake.

Internships are also offered to those pursuing a career in
conservation science.  Working with the Research Scientist, the
intern will assist in the examination and analysis of works
undergoing conservation treatment in the studios as well as
assisting in, and developing research into, conservation materials
current and past, and investigating the effects of conservation
processes.

>From time to time, internships will be advertised for specific
research projects.

Internships will be offered for one year in the first instance,
renewable for a second year.  Progress from the first to second year
is by mutual agreement.  Interns will be required to pay fees for
the first year and find funding support.   In the second year, no
fees will be charged and interns will be supported by funds
available to the Institute.  Interns will be notified by the end of
December of their first year if they are eligible for a second year.
The Institute has limited funding available for internships.

Internships are designed for those recently completing training at a
recognised programme.  However, one internship is reserved for those
completing their post-graduate conservation course in the same year
as commencing the internship.  Students seeking internships before
graduating from a conservation course are also eligible to apply.

Internships at the Institute would provide valuable additional
experience for those having trained elsewhere.  The Institute at
present accepts on average two primary students every other year,
maintaining a high staff/student ratio for careful supervision.
This, combined with the facilities of the well-equipped studios and
science laboratory, and the Institute's responsibility for a major
museum collection in the Fitzwilliam Museum, as well as other public
and private collections, offers the successful candidate experience
of many differing conservation problems and treatments.  The range
of environmental problems encountered, notably in private houses,
has led to the Institute gaining particular experience in the
treatment of panel paintings.  In addition studio space at
Whittlesford allows the conservation of very large works both on
canvas and on wooden supports.

Interns in painting conservation are encouraged to use all the
facilities offered by the Institute and would be expected to take
problems to the laboratory and assist the Research Scientist in
their resolution.  An intern working with the Research Scientist
would be expected to spend time in the studio examining paintings
with the conservator.

Interns would be required to visit exhibitions and collections with
members of staff, and attend lectures by specialists during the
course of the year. Where time and circumstances permit, the intern
would spend a short period of secondment to the Institute's London
Studio  (Ebury Street).  Interns would also be invited to apply for
exchanges with other European conservation training programmes for
up to three months under the Erasmus/Socrates scheme.

Selection:   Applications should be received by 31 January of the
year in which the intern wishes to start.  The Institute's academic
year commences in September.  Interns can sometime start in January,
but only by agreement. Candidates are advised to visit the Institute
before that date.  Some candidates who cannot visit the Institute
might be interviewed by colleagues in other Institutions. Curriculum
Vitae and the name and address of two referees should be sent to the
Administrator.

Tuition Fees: Approximately UKP2,700 per annum for interns resident
in the United Kingdom and for European or overseas students.

Programme for Internship at the Institute

I. Practical Conservation

    1.  Initial assessment of intern's experience and ability
        through work as assistant on a large scale project.
        Preparation of reports.  Introduction to analytical
        laboratory for further analysis of material from studio
        work. Teaching of techniques used at Institute, e.g. tempera
        retouching. Preparation of talk to students and staff on
        intern's training before arriving at Institute.
        Participating in preventative conservation and 'in-situ'
        treatment of works in country house collections.  Monitoring
        conditions of paintings in the Fitzwilliam Museum.
        Preparation of seminar.

    2.  Work on projects for completion without direct assistance.
        Assistance in structural treatment, in particular cold
        lining, treatment of structural deformation and panel work.
        The type of work undertaken would be based on the intern's
        own experience, and would aim to fill gaps in her/his
        training.  Monitoring of condition of group of paintings in
        the Fitzwilliam Museum.  Preparation of seminar. Research
        and written report.

II. Conservation Science

Subjects covered:
    Techniques of analysis:
        Microscopy
        Methods of sampling and sample preparation for wood and
        paint.
        Microscopic examination of cross-sections.

    Instrumental techniques:
        Gas chromatography
        Infra-red spectrometry
        Electron-microscopy*
        X-ray microprobe*
        (* Available in the Science Faculty of the University).

Recent projects have included the examination of technique and
materials used by Frans Hals, the materials and technique of Gerrit
Dou and the 'Fine Painters'.

The results of all analytical work are filed.  In some cases the
work has formed part of a publication either in the Institute's own
Bulletin or in the Burlington Magazine where the results are of both
art historical and technical interest. The work is supervised by the
Research Scientist.


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 13:40
                 Distributed: Friday, January 14, 2000
                       Message Id: cdl-13-40-026
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