Departmental Facilities

The Department of Art History and Art Conservation offers, at the graduate level, the M.A.C. in Art Conservation, and the Ph.D. and the M.A. in Art History. At the undergraduate level, the Department offers the B.A.(Hons.) degree in Art History.

The art conservation program is an interdisciplinary program that combines academic study and practical work with cultural property in the laboratory and in the museum, art gallery, archive or library. To this end, specially designed laboratories fitted with up to date equipment for a wide range of restoration and conservation activities are annexed to the Agnes Etherington Art Centre. In addition, extensive use is made of the facilities available in the Art Centre, Queen's University Archives, Stauffer Library Special Collections, and collaborating science and engineering departments.

Liaison is also maintained with other Departments in the Humanities, particularly Classics, English, History; with Languages, Literature and Culture, and with the programs in Canadian and in Medieval, Renaissance and Women's studies, so that graduate students may take additional courses in such fields if needed. In the Sciences, interdepartmental liaison is maintained particularly with Chemistry and Physics, which are of interest to the art conservation program.

The Art Library located in the Stauffer Library comprises some 60,000 items (including exhibition catalogues) on all aspects of art history and on art technology, restoration, conservation and exhibition, supplemented by extensive electronic journals and other digital library holdings. The Department holds some 200,000 photographs and 220,000 slides of architecture, painting and sculpture, art technology, restoration, and conservation. Extensive Canadian archival material on art and architecture is also available elsewhere in Stauffer Library and the University Archives.

The Agnes Etherington Art Centre, which has a close working relationship with the Department, offers outstanding collections in select areas of Western and non-Western art for examination and research. Part of the permanent collection is on display at all times; the rest, which is in storage, is available to graduate students by appointment.

Financial Assistance

Apart from national and provincial awards, Graduate Awards may be made by the Department on the basis of merit. Teaching assistantships may be available to students in both the art conservation and art history programs.

Faculty

Head
Vorano, N.

Director
Hill, R.

Coordinator of Graduate Studies
Murray, A.

Professor
Shugar, A.

Associate Professor
Hill, R., Murray, A., Smithen, P.

Assistant Professor
Kim, E.

Professor Emeritus
Hodkinson, I. S.

Cross-Appointed Faculty
Bevan, G.

Adjunct Professor
Burns, T., Graham, F., Spirydowicz, K., Waller, R.

Programs

Courses

ARTC 801 Conservation Principles
A general survey course dealing with various aspects of conservation and museology. The course deals with professional ethics, control of the factors causing deterioration and with preventive conservation including care in handling, transporting and storing cultural property. Half course; fall. 

ARTC 802 Properties of Materials
This course discusses organic and inorganic materials important in conservation. Topics covered will include the chemical structure, properties, degradation processes, and conservation treatments of the different materials. Scientific principles that are encountered in conservation treatment will also be studied. Half course; fall.

ARTC 804 Scientific Methods for the Conservator
This course covers the theory and use of the polarizing microscope, which enables the identification of art materials including pigments and fibers. Other investigative techniques that will be discussed include: microchemical tests and fluorescence microscopy. This course comprises both lectures and labs. Half course; winter.

ARTC 806 Internship I
The first of two internships of three months duration in the conservation department of an approved institution or with an approved conservator. The internships are intended to expose students to a variety of situations in the field. Whenever possible, internships will be arranged to suit the interest and abilities of individual students. Three months (12 weeks) duration; summer.

ARTC 807 Internship II
The second internship of three months duration in the conservation department of a recognized institution or with an approved conservator. Wherever possible, the second internship will be taken in a situation relevant to the student's area of interest. Three months (12 weeks) duration; summer.

ARTC 808 Instrumental Methods of Analysis
This course is designed to give an understanding of selected instrumental methods of analysis used in art conservation. Aspects covered include the fundamental principles underlying the techniques, the instrumentation, and the practical applications and limitations. The principles of colour and light will also be covered. There will be lectures and laboratory demonstrations. Half course; fall. 

ARTC 810 Imaging and Documentation
This course covers theory and practice of digital imaging for flat and 3 D cultural heritage objects, using several techniques: digital photography, infrared, ultraviolet, reflectance transformation imaging, x ray and others. Post capture image manipulation and image storage/retrieval will be stressed as well as studio protocol and artifact handling and safety. Half course; fall. 

ARTC 811 History, Technology and Conservation of Artifacts 
Learning materials $150 (2023-2024). A detailed study of the structure and characteristics of archaeological and historic artifacts. Historical and geographical factors affecting the development of artifacts are examined as well as the interrelationship of materials and methods of production. The causes of deterioration of artifacts and methods of preventing further deterioration are evaluated, together with the materials and methods needed to carry out conservation treatments. This course concentrates on artifacts made primarily of metals and stone. Half course; winter.  Not offered 2024-25.

ARTC 812 History Technology and Conservation of Artifacts II
Learning materials $150 (2024-2025) This course has the same format as ARTC 811 but with particular emphasis on artifacts made from materials of organic origin, especially wood, leather, bone and ivory. Half course; fall. 

ARTC 813 History Technology and Conservation of Artifacts III
This course has the same format as ARTC 811 but with particular emphasis on artifacts of organic origin, especially textiles. Half course; winter. 

ARTC 821 History, Technology and Conservation of Paintings I
Learning materials $150 (2024-2025). A detailed study of the structure and characteristics of historical fabric supported paintings. The history of materials and techniques, agencies of deterioration, and methods of remedial treatments are examined. Half course; fall. 

ARTC 822 History, Technology and Conservation of Paintings II
Continuing the studies begun in ARTC 821, this course examines the materials and techniques, deterioration, and conservation of paintings on solid supports. Emphasis will be placed on the study of wood panel paintings. Half course; winter. 

ARTC 823 History, Technology, and Conservation of Contemporary Art
Learning materials $150 (2023-2024) This course has the same format as ARTC 821 with a concentration on contemporary art. Emphasis will be placed on contemporary painting and multi media works. Half course. Not offered 2024-25. 

ARTC 824 Technical Examination of Paintings
This course will involve theoretical and practical study of various types of technical examination of paintings. Emphasis will be placed on interpreting observed phenomena and exploring their contributions to art historical and conservation study and practice. Examination techniques to be studied will include visible light, radiography, microscopy, and various instrumental analytical and dating techniques. Practical sessions will be held in the laboratories of the Master of Art Conservation Program using historical paintings from the collections of the Agnes Etherington Art Centre. Field trips to other conservation laboratories will also be organized. Field trips. Limited enrolment. Not offered 2024-25. 

ARTC 831 History, Technology and Conservation of Paper Objects I
Learning materials $75 (2024-2025) A detailed study of the structure and characteristics of paper objects. Historical, geographical, social and economic factors in the development of the technology of paper artifacts are considered. The causes of deterioration of paper objects are described and methods of preventing further deterioration are evaluated, together with materials and methods needed to carry out conservation treatments. This course focuses on archival materials. Half course; fall. 

ARTC 832 History, Technology and Conservation of Paper Objects II
Learning materials $75 (2024-2025). This course has the same format as ARTC 831 with particular emphasis being placed on prints, drawings and watercolours. Half course; winter.

ARTC 833 History, Technology and Conservation of Paper and New Media III
This course has the same format as ARTC 831 with emphasis on artifacts of complex structure such as photographs, digital object and new media and focuses on their preservation in an institutional context. Half course. Not offered 2024-25.   

ARTC 850 Introduction to Artifact Conservation Practice
Learning materials $250 (2024-2025). Studio and workshop practice in the conservation of artifacts, particularly those made of ceramics and glass. Methods of preventing further deterioration are applied to artifacts and experience is gained in the use of materials for conservation. Half course; fall. 

ARTC 851 Artifact Conservation Practice I
This course continues the studies begun in ARTC 850 with special emphasis on artifacts made from metals and stone. Half course. Not offered 2024-25. 

ARTC 852 Artifact Conservation Practice II
This course continues the studies begun in ARTC 850 with special emphasis on artifacts made of wood, leather, bone and ivory, and those made of a number of different materials. Half course; fall. 

ARTC 853 Artifact Conservation Practice III
This course continues the studies begun in ARTC 850 with particular emphasis on artifacts made from materials of organic origin, especially textiles. Half course; winter.

ARTC 861 Paintings Conservation Practice I
Learning materials $250 (2024-2025). Laboratory practice in painting conservation treatments; introduction to assessment of condition and condition reports. Theoretical studies of ARTC 821 are applied to practical restoration projects undertaken under faculty supervision. Half course; fall. 

ARTC 862 Paintings Conservation Practice II
This course continues studies begun in ARTC 861. Half course; winter. 

ARTC 863 Paintings Conservation Practice III
This course is designed to provide second year students with increasingly more complex problems in the conservation of paintings. Aesthetic, historical and ethical aspects are considered along with practical approaches to the conservation of a variety of unusual painting materials and paintings on solid supports. Half course; fall. 

ARTC 864 Paintings Conservation Practice IV
Continuation of ARTC 863. Half course; fall term, repeated again in winter term.

ARTC 871 Paper Objects Conservation Practice I
Learning materials $250 (2024-2025) Laboratory practice in the handling of the materials of art and conservation. Theoretical studies are applied to practical conservation and preservation projects, which are undertaken with faculty supervision. This course emphasizes the conservation and preservation of archival materials. Half course; fall. 

ARTC 872 Paper Objects Conservation Practice II
This course continues the studies begun in ARTC 871 with special emphasis being placed on the restoration and conservation of fine art objects on paper and related materials. Half course; winter.

ARTC 873 Paper/New Media Conservation Practice III
This course continues studies begun in ARTC 871 with special emphasis on artifacts of complex structure such as photographs, digital objects and new media and focuses on their preservation in an institutional context. Half course. Not offered 2024-25.

ARTC 874 Advanced Practice in Paper Objects Conservation
This course provides second year students with increasingly more complex problems in the conservation of paper objects. Aesthetic, historical and ethical aspects are considered along with practical approaches to the conservation of objects of varied structures and materials. Half course; fall. 

ARTC 881 Developing Scientific Method
This course develops confidence and critical thinking skills associated with determining scientific analyses used to aid in the investigations of conservation treatment. Students will critically assess and synthesize choices, leading to formulating ideal research and treatment options. This course comprises both lecture and lab.  Half course; winter.  (3.0 credit units)
PREREQUISITE:  ARTC 802 or equivalent.

ARTC 882 Analytical Imaging of Art
This course is designed to provide art conservators or art historians with a deep understanding of analytical imaging using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) and Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI).  Students will gain practical knowledge and hands-on experience.  This course compromises both lecture and lab. Half course; winter. (3.0 credit units)
CO-REQUISITE: ARTC 808 or equivalent, or permission from instructor.

ARTC 897 Directed Study in Art Conservation
This course will provide students with an opportunity to explore specific topics in depth. This course will usually take the form of a closely supervised reading course in an area of the instructor's expertise. Half course, fall and winter. Not offered 2024-25.

ARTC 898 Research Project
Research will be carried out in consultation with and under the guidance of the instructor. Each student will conduct a research project and produce a written report. Students will need to obtain the instructor's permission to pursue research in an area relevant to the field of art conservation. The course will include oral presentations and formal reports. Full year course; fall, winter, spring and summer. 

ARTC 899 Master's Thesis Research