Provenance Specialist
The Museum of Modern Art seeks an art historian with proven expertise in provenance research procedures, guidelines, and resources, particularly for works of art created in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Position requires expert physical examination of works of art and thorough investigation of museum archives, auction and exhibition catalogues, monographic studies, and catalogues of collections, dealer records, photographic archives, and publication of wartime activities of dealers and collectors, some of which is not publicly available -- both in the U.S. and other countries. The position reports to Curator in the Department of Painting and Sculpture.
The incumbent in the position oversees research, procedures, documentation and funding in conjunction with curatorial departments, General Counsel and Registrar for provenance research and review for all curatorial departments, including searching through Museum records and when appropriate, contacting established archives, databases, art dealers, auction houses, donors, scholars and researchers, with regard to:
* Works in the Collection; outgoing loans (foreign); acquisitions (gifts, bequests, purchases); deaccessions
* Manages MoMA's Provenance Research Project including responding to queries on behalf of the project (http://www.moma.org/collection/provenance/)
* Provides research for catalog information, provenance listings and images for selected works (1000) from the Collection meeting AAM guidelines, from Departments of Painting and Sculpture and Drawings.
* Reviews documentation for loan exhibitions: foreign incoming loans to exhibitions (for immunity from seizure applications) and review of domestic incoming loans.
* Trains employees in relevant departments on provenance research, standards and educates them on routine procedures.
Qualified candidates will possess an MA in Art History, PhD preferred and several years experience with provenance research and procedures (minimum of five years). Ability to conduct research in archives in relevant countries around the world; understanding of war-time art market. Familiarity with all current resources including those on-line. Fluency in English, French, and German.
Please submit resume and cover letter, including salary requirements, to jobs@moma.org
The Museum of Modern Art is an equal opportunity employer and considers all candidates for employment regardless of race, color, sex, age, national origin, creed, disability, marital status, sexual orientation or political affiliation.
Originally posted on a library school listserv.
Friday, October 30, 2009
F/T - Provenance Specialist - MoMA
