The Courtauld is delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Austin Nevin to the new position of Head of Conservation.
Building on The Courtauld’s long history as a centre of excellence in teaching both the conservation of easel paintings and the conservation of wall painting, Dr Nevin’s role will be to bring the two departments together, and to raise the profile of The Courtauld’s work in this area nationally and internationally.
Dr Nevin is a conservator and conservation scientist. He joins The Courtauld 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. 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 The Courtauld. 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´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 The Courtauld as Head of Conservation” says Dr Nevin. “My training at The Courtauld 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 The Courtauld.”
“The conservation of works of art is a core element of The Courtauld’s teaching and research” adds Professor Deborah Swallow, Märit Rausing Director of The Courtauld. “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 The Courtauld’s current exciting transformation project.”
Dr Nevin will be joining in the autumn term of 2020, and will also sit on The Courtauld’s Senior Leadership Group. The appointment comes at a key moment in the institution’s history, as it undergoes a major, multi-million-pound redevelopment, the biggest project of its kind since The Courtauld moved to Somerset House in 1989.
Courtauld Connects, supported by £9.4m from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and donations from generous philanthropic foundations and individual supporters, will make The Courtauld’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 The Courtauld’s expertise in this area.