A History of the Department of Conservation and Technology at the Courtauld Institute of Art

This article traces the foundation and development of the Department of Conservation and Technology at the Courtauld Institute of Art from its inception as a Technology Department in 1934 to 2020, when the Department merged with Wall Paintings Conservation into a single Conservation Department. The first section describes the development of research and teaching, the interests of the Department’s staff, and collaborations within and outside the Institute, and the financial and technical developments that influenced these changes. The second section discusses the later years, highlighting interdisciplinary research by staff and students with national and international partners and the challenges in the delivery of graduate education in conservation that is practical, technically informed, and interdisciplinary.