Art Conservation

The program offers a three-year interdisciplinary curriculum leading to a degree of master of science in art conservation. Established in the spring of 1974 as a cooperative effort between Winterthur and the University, the program is designed to educate and train conservation professionals who can carry out the examination, stabilization and treatment of art and artifacts, are versed in general principles of collection care, and have a broad academic background in science and the humanities to assure enlightened decision-making. The following subjects are studied: materials science, history of art, archaeology, art and artifact technology, craft skills, cultural context, preventive maintenance, art care treatment techniques and conservation history, and ethics and philosophy. Major conservation specialty areas include textiles, wood, paper, photographs, library materials, paintings, natural science collections, and anthropological, historical, decorative and art objects of all materials.