at the University Amsterdam, Conservation and Restoration of
Cultural Heritage Dept., there is - after more than 100 years of
history of art - an offer to study History of Art Technology.
But only for a small group of scientists:
This new branch of art history focuses on an artwork as a physical object: it studies the materials, techniques and production methods that went into its making, as well as artist's reflections on the process of creation.
In a small group, students work hands-on with a wide variety of art objects, using state-of-the-art analytical equipment to examine their construction and material composition. In addition to academic courses on the history of art technology and applied science, the course includes excursions, workshops, and making historical reconstructions.
The Conservation & Restoration department at the UvA is one of the few programs in the world to offer this specialisation, which sits at the crossroads between conservation, art history and science. It is ideally situated to facilitate connections and internships with the museums and institutions in Amsterdam, and participate in relevant research projects.
I would be grateful to learn that such an offer of basic knowledge is existing elsewhere.
C. Müller-Straten