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Postgraduate Study

3 courses offered in the Department of History of Art

Since the Department of History of Art's foundation in 1970, we have established ourselves as one of the world’s leading centres for advanced research in the field.  We aim to deliver a rigorous, stimulating education in the History of Art and Architecture, with a strong emphasis on the study of works of art and architecture first-hand.  We are proud of our team of staff and students whose impressive performance is critical to sustaining and enhancing the national and international reputation created by our distinguished alumni.

Cambridge itself is, from an art-historical point of view, a stunning city to live and work in.  We make full use of Cambridge’s unique holdings of art and architecture, including the Fitzwilliam Museum (on our doorstep), Kettle’s Yard and the University Library as well as the buildings and collections of the Colleges. The Hamilton Kerr Institute at Whittlesford, a department of the Fitzwilliam Museum, is dedicated to the conservation of easel paintings and also contributes to our teaching and research.

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Since the Department of History of Art's foundation in 1970, we have established ourselves as one of the world’s leading centres for advanced research in the field. We aim to deliver a rigorous, stimulating education in the history of art and architecture, with a strong emphasis on the study of works of art and architecture at first-hand. We are proud of our team of staff and students whose impressive performance is critical to sustaining and enhancing the national and international reputation created by our distinguished alumni.

Cambridge itself is, from an art-historical point of view, a stunning city in which to live and work. We make full use of Cambridge’s unique holdings of art and architecture, including the Fitzwilliam Museum (on our doorstep), Kettle’s Yard and the University Library as well as the buildings and collections of the Colleges. The Hamilton Kerr Institute at Whittlesford, a department of the Fitzwilliam Museum, is dedicated to the conservation of easel paintings.

The Department of History of Art has the expertise and welcomes candidates in many areas including medieval, Renaissance and early modern, eighteenth and nineteenth century, modern and contemporary art, and historiography and methodology.

The MPhil in the History of Art and Architecture is a nine-month course providing advanced study and training in research in specialised areas of the subject. It is intended as a self-contained programme of art-historical study, but also serves as a preparation for students intending to proceed to doctoral research.  

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The new 3-year Master of the Conservation of Easel Paintings has been developed from the Diploma in Conservation of Easel Paintings, which is internationally acknowledged as providing world class training of the highest standard.

The course entails theoretical and practical training. Students learn by working on a broad range of paintings and are gradually introduced to tasks that incrementally require more skills and greater responsibilities, under one-to-one supervision. As the students will be part of a large working studio there is the unique opportunity to work next to experienced conservators as well as with heritage scientists. Students also attend theoretical course elements to provide them with foundational knowledge of organic chemistry to inform conservation treatment, academic research and writing skills, a thorough understanding of heritage science and its applications, and of technical art historical research.

In addition to taking on 2-4 PG students every alternate year, the HKI also provides internships to alumni from national and international conservation Masters programmes. The PG students benefit from the presence of early career conservators, broadening our students’ education and encouraging critical engagement with professional trends.

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Department Members


Professor Jean Michel Massing
Head of Department

  • 9 Academic Staff
  • 2 Postdoctoral Researchers
  • 58 Graduate Students
  • 100 Undergraduates

http://www.hoart.cam.ac.uk/

Research Areas