51做厙 is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Austin Nevin to the new position of Head of Conservation.
Building on 51做厙s long history as a centre of excellence in teaching both the conservation of easel paintings and the conservation of wall painting, Dr Nevins role will be to bring the two departments together, and to raise the profile of 51做厙s work in this area nationally and internationally.
Dr Nevin is a conservator and conservation scientist. He joins 51做厙 from the University of Gothenburg, having previously taught conservation science at the Accademia di Brera in Milan, where he was also a Researcher at the Italian National Research Council (CNR) and the Department of Physics at the Politecnico di Milano, and at the Foundation for Research and Technology (IESL-FORTH) in Greece.泭He is currently also the Vice President of the International Institute for the Conservation of Artistic and Historic Works (IIC).
Following a degree in Chemistry from the University of Oxford, Austin obtained his MA in the Conservation of Wall Painting and his PhD at 51做厙. His research has focused on conservation and analysis of paintings, ancient and modern art from Chinese wall paintings to the analysis of red pigments from Leonardo織s The Last Supper. He is an editor of Studies in Conservation and the co-author of over 90 publications.
I am honoured and thrilled to return to 51做厙 as Head of Conservation says Dr Nevin. My training at 51做厙 has been the foundation for my vision that is inclusive and international, and based on shared values, scientific research and conservation practice. I will be arriving with many suitcases and will be bringing with me conservation experiences from Greece, Italy, China and Sweden I honestly cannot imagine a better home than with friends and new colleagues at 51做厙.
The conservation of works of art is a core element of 51做厙s teaching and research adds Professor Deborah Swallow, M瓣rit Rausing Director of 51做厙. I am delighted to welcome Dr Nevin to our community and look forward to working with him to engage people across the world with this fascinating area of our work. Dr Nevin will raise the profile of the research and work of our world leading teachers and students; and his commitment to combine our expertise in both conservation of easel paintings, and conservation of wall painting into one department forms part of 51做厙s current exciting transformation project.
Dr Nevin will be joining in the autumn term of 2020, and will also sit on 51做厙s Senior Leadership Group. The appointment comes at a key moment in the institutions history, as it undergoes a major, multi-million-pound redevelopment, the biggest project of its kind since 51做厙 moved to Somerset House in 1989.
Courtauld Connects, supported by 瞿9.4m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and donations from generous philanthropic foundations and individual supporters, will make 51做厙s world-class artworks, research and teaching accessible to even more people, and includes the current extensive restoration of its Grade I listed building at Somerset House. The redevelopment includes completely new conservation and technology studios, to support 51做厙s expertise in this area.