Curator of Italian Paintings before 1500

This content is exclusive for CfC members.

Please or register to see all our content.

The National Gallery

JOB CONTEXT

The National Gallery, London houses one of the greatest collections of paintings in the world. These pictures belong to the public and entrance is free. The Gallery employs seven Collection Curators who are responsible for specific areas. Within the Renaissance period, there are the Curators of Northern Renaissance Paintings, Sixteenth-century Italian

Paintings, and the present role. The curatorial team also includes Associate Curators, Curatorial Fellows and a Senior Research Curator. The Gallery is in the process of recruiting a new Curator of Italian Paintings before for the duties and responsibilities set out below.

JOB PURPOSE

The Curator of Italian Paintings before 1500 oversees, with other relevant Collection Curators, the care and growth of the National Gallery’s Renaissance collections. They are responsible specifically for the care and display of the pre-1500 Italian paintings, and for associated scholarly research, publication and interpretation. The curator seeks and recommends relevant new acquisitions and loans, and acts as the curatorial lead on exhibitions, collection displays and gallery refurbishment projects. The curator will participate in the Gallery’s ‘NG200’ programme for its bicentenary in 2024, including ‘The Main Event’, ‘National Treasures’ and ‘NG 200 for 200’ projects (see Introduction in the information pack). As a senior member of the Department, they will have line management responsibilities (usually 1-2 direct reports), providing leadership and pastoral care to the curatorial team, and helping deliver an innovative, scholarly and collaborative curatorial vision.

SCOPE OF JOB

Deliver all objectives in their area set by the Board and Head of Curatorial.
Regular reporting to Head of Curatorial
Acting as a lead advocate for the National Gallery, including the NG200 programme, with a wide range of internal and external colleagues and stakeholders
Ensuring that the Pre-1500 Italian collection is cared for and displayed to the highest standards, liaising with Heads of Curatorial, Conservation and Framing
Ensuring accurate documentation and records keeping, and that confidential and sensitive information is handled appropriately
Deciding with Heads of Conservation and Curatorial on priorities for conservation treatments, and monitoring progress of conservation treatment
Working with the Head of Science and Head of Research, the Head of Conservation, and members of their teams, on the technical study and understanding of pre-1500 Italian paintings
Assisting Head of Curatorial to research and develop the Collection Development Strategy
Seeking and proposing potential new acquisitions and loans
Being active in research and publications; contributing to the Gallery’s research culture, including convening conferences, colloquia, etc
Being responsible for proposing, researching and writing scholarly catalogue entries, and potentially a complete catalogue publication, as part of the Gallery’s cataloguing programme, including the ‘NG 200 for 200’ project
Ensuring that information on relevant paintings is up to date, taking account of the latest scholarly research
Dealing with relevant specialist enquiries including regarding provenance, export licence applications, valuations for loan and indemnity, export review and spoliation cases; supporting the Director of the National Gallery as DCMS National Advisor
Making sure that these areas are appropriately interpreted for diverse audiences, in the galleries and other media (including digital); producing and/or supervising this interpretation
With Head of Curatorial, researching and developing themes and principles for the collection displays, including the NG200 project ‘The Main Event’
Devising, planning and overseeing the installation of relevant displays
Working with Art Handling who will schedule all picture moves/decants/rehangs
Proposing and curating exhibitions; also, being prepared to propose and curate exhibitions with a broader chronological or thematic focus, or projects involving contemporary practitioners
Suggesting speakers for, and contributing to, the Learning and Digital Departments’ public programmes, including those associated with exhibition projects
Contribute (when appropriate) to the teaching and supervision of MA and PhD students associated with National Gallery programmes and partnerships
Working with the Communications Department and advising on the specialist content of talks and public presentations
Developing active networks of colleagues in museums, heritage sector and academic institutions, nationally and internationally
Ensuring fruitful relations with current lenders and cultivating relationships with collectors in these areas
Being involved in fundraising and development work, and the cultivation of existing and potential patrons and supporters; playing a key role in stewarding relevant patrons/supporters