Curator, 15th-16th Century Northern European Paintings

National Gallery of Art

The Department of Northern European Paintings (CNE) is responsible for the National Gallery’s acquisition, care, study, and display of approximately 375 premier Netherlandish, German, Dutch and Flemish paintings from the 15^th through the 18^th centuries.  The incumbent serves as an Assistant or Associate Curator, reporting to the head of the Department of Northern European Paintings (CNE), under the executive office of the Chief Curator and Conservation Officer.

Duties

The incumbent:

• Perform advanced scholarly research on prospective acquisitions and on objects for examination in studies, scholarly journals, Gallery publications, lectures, symposia and colloquia, or exhibitions.  Work with members of CNE to ensure that objects entering the CNE collection are properly researched and catalogued, that already existing object records are updated as new information becomes available, and that artists’ biographies in the database are accurate and current.  Trace and document provenances.
• Keep abreast of bibliography, exhibitions, collecting, publishing, and other developments in the field of European paintings.  Draft or contribute research to acquisition proposals.  Research provenance of proposed gifts and purchases including research on objects with potential World War II provenance issues; consults with outside experts as necessary.  Notify management of results of potential acquisitions research and works to resolve issues and problems encountered.
• Support the expansion and deepening of the Gallery’s collections through the acquisition of works of art of the highest quality and relevance to the Gallery’s collecting policies.  In consultation with the Head of Department, assist with development initiatives to build the CNE collection and support relationships with collectors, scholars, and art dealers to attract and secure single objects, collections, funds, or other types of gifts to the Gallery.
• The incumbent assist with exhibitions or undertakes by assignment or on own initiative, in consultation with CNE colleagues, to propose, organize, and coordinate small scale exhibitions and installations that draw from the Gallery’s holdings of 15^thand 16^thcentury Northern European Paintings, as well as from other institutions and private collections.  Coordinate with the departments of Exhibitions, Conservation, Registrar and Design and Installation to meet exhibition production schedule deadlines and budget requirements.