Internship in Paintings Conservation

The Rijksmuseum is the largest museum of the Netherlands. The collection contains 1.1 million objects offering a representative overview of Dutch art and history from the Middle Ages onward and important aspects of European and Asian art. The museum receives over two million visitors a year with its stunning building, surprising decor, beautiful exhibitions, lively events and many pleasant facilities for young and old.

The Department of Paintings Conservation holds an internationally recognized position in the field of technical research and conservation and consists of a core team of ten conservators, supplemented by other conservators working on different projects. Working in close collaboration with a team of researchers and scientists, they are responsible for the research, conservation and care of the Rijksmuseum collection of old master paintings.

The Rijksmuseum is inviting applications for an Internship in Paintings Conservation.

The position is full-time (36 hours per week) for the duration of six to (preferably) twelve months, starting in the fall of 2023, to be scheduled in accordance with the training program of the intern and the schedule of the Rijksmuseum Paintings Conservation department.

Day-to-day duties:
You will assist during the currently ongoing Operation Night Watch, a project launched in July 2019 to conduct in-depth research into the painting technique and condition of Rembrandt's masterpiece and its treatment. Alternatively, you will carry out a treatment of a painting, including scientific research into its materials, technique and condition.

You will work alongside the paintings conservators to:
monitor the condition of the collection; prepare paintings for loans; write condition reports; (de-) install exhibitions, and assist with other ongoing (research) projects.
 
The Paintings Conservation department works closely with the Curatorial- and Science Departments, and you will be expected to participate in discussions about ongoing treatments and research projects.

The successful applicant:
- is enrolled in a (inter)national MA-level conservation training program with a specialization in paintings conservation (preferably in their last year of study) for the duration of the entire internship;
- has sufficient knowledge and skills to carry out conservation treatments;
- is genuinely interested in integrating scientific research into conservation practice;
- has basic knowledge of analytical methods useful for research;
- is fluent in English, spoken and written;
- has the ability to work in a team.

We offer:
- a modest monthly stipend of 250 euros a month based on 36 hours working week is offered. Special requirements are in place for students coming from outside Europe;
- an inspiring workplace. The Rijksmuseum's Conservation & Science Department is housed in the Ateliergebouw (Studio Building) across the street from the Rijksmuseum. In addition to the six conservation studios and the Science Department of the Rijksmuseum, the building hosts the conservation training program of the University of Amsterdam, the laboratories of the Department of the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE), and the Netherlands Institute of Conservation, Art and Science (NICAS). The strong collaboration between conservators, scientific researchers and art historians in the three institutes makes for an interdisciplinary and dynamic environment;
- the opportunity to attend regular talks organized by the three institutions housed in the Ateliergebouw.

All applications must be submitted online and in English and should include a letter of interest, a curriculum vitae and two letters of recommendation. Applications or related materials delivered via email, postal mail, or in person will not be accepted.

The closing date for all applications is 1 February at 6:00 p.m. (Amsterdam time/CET). No applications will be accepted after the deadline. Interviews will be held in February 2023. Applicants will be notified in the week of 15 March 2023.

For questions regarding the application procedure, please contact, Jikke Valé, recruitment officer, recruitment@rijksmuseum.nl.