Following on from our evening discussion on Mist Linings, we would like to invite you to the final lecture in our Getty sponsored “Conserving Canvas” lecture series. The speakers will be Simon and Thomas Bobak and Professor Alan Cummings.
Simon Bobak has been the Head of the London Studio of the Hamilton Kerr Institute since about 1995. He has a background in engineering and has been a specialist in the structural conservation of panels and canvas paintings for over 50 years. Thomas Bobak has been a Director of Bobak Conservation since 2008, he too specialises in the structural conservation of canvas and panel paintings. Together they will be speaking about the history of glue paste lining in England and go on to discuss their current working method within their studio practice by showing case studies and work in progress.
Professor Alan Cummings completed his postgraduate studies in conservation of easel paintings at the Courtauld in 1974. During his time there he worked closely with Gerry Hedley and Stephen Hackney on methods of lining paintings. His final year project explored the issue of texture change in vacuum lining. The outcomes of this study were presented in the 1974 Lining Conference in Greenwich alongside a presentation on a novel method of vacuum envelope lining. After his studies Alan worked as a freelance conservator for 15 years. His clients included the National Portrait Gallery, English Heritage, The National Trust, numerous other heritage organisations and private collections. In 1988, he joined the Royal College of Art to design and lead a new MA course in cultural heritage conservation in partnership with the V&A Museum and Imperial College. His work with this course led to a Queens Anniversary Prize for Further and Higher Education. In 2000 he was awarded a Professorship and was subsequently appointed as the RCA’s Pro-Rector and Director of Academic Development. He also became a Visiting Professor at Imperial College and a Governor of the National Film and Television School before retiring from academic life in 2014. For “Conserving Canvas”, Alan will talk about the intense engagement with lining issues and practices at the Courtauld in the early 1970s, making use of vintage footage of a vacuum envelope lining. He will also describe how he has modified this method over the years and still performs occasional linings at the request of his wife, the paintings conservator and technical historian, Sarah Cove, ACR.
The lecture will be followed by a drinks reception
Organised by Maureen Cross (The Courtauld) and Clare Richardson (The Courtauld).
