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Hamilton Kerr Institute

Fitzwilliam Museum

Hamilton Kerr Institute, Fitzwilliam Museum

The Hamilton Kerr Institute is a department of the Fitzwilliam Museum. The Institute undertakes the conservation of easel paintings for public and publicly shown collections as well as the Museum. In this environment the Institute aims to educate painting conservators to the highest standard and to contribute to scientific, technical and art historical research. The institute hosts a number of archives, and carries a continual programme of inter-disciplinary research in addition to the conservation services and teaching on offer.

 

 




Latest news

Listen to the HKI's Christine Kimbriel in conversation with Dr Chris Smith on the topic of science and conservation - new podcast from The Naked Scientist

3 October 2025

https://www.thenakedscientists.com/podcasts/naked-scientists-podcast/painting-where-art-meets-science

Open day 2025

19 September 2025

The Hamilton Kerr Institute will be holding an Open Day for prospective MCEP students at its studio in Central Cambridge on 23rd October 2025. Please email our Administrator before Monday 20th October to book a place or request further details: hki@fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk

Lady Margaret Beaufort restoration on display at National Portrait Gallery

10 July 2023

Recently, the HKI said goodbye to a painting that has spent the past five years in our studios. The St John's College full-size portrait of Lady Margaret Beaufort at Prayer sat stoically on an easel throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, waiting patiently to have many campaigns of varnish and overpainting removed to reveal her...