Lecturer/Senior Lecturer/Reader in the History of the Art Market

The Courtauld is seeking to appoint a Lecturer/Senior Lecturer/Reader (equivalent to Assistant or Associate Professor) with a specialist knowledge of the history of the art market.  Applications are welcomed from those with a scholarly expertise in any aspect of the art market from the early modern period to the late twentieth century, but who also have a broader knowledge of the histories of art markets both in the UK and internationally. We are seeking candidates who will engage with and drive forward debate and scholarship, who will critically engage with current issues and debates in the field, and whose research is of world-class quality.

Working with a specialist on today’s art market, the post-holder will make a leading contribution to the design and delivery of a new MA in Art and Business at The Courtauld, which will launch in September 2025. This MA will aim to be the leading postgraduate programme in the subject, equipping students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the contemporary art world. Students will have the chance to pursue advanced study and research on Art and Business from both a contemporary and an historical perspective, and with the benefit of an extraordinary range of experts. As well as being taught by the Courtauld’s specialist faculty, and by colleagues at King’s Business School, they will engage on a weekly basis with some of the most dynamic and influential figures of today’s art world, including gallerists, auction-house directors, art lawyers, art fair organisers, art advisors, curators, artists and critics. As co-convenor of the MA in Art and Business, the post-holder will work closely not only with colleagues from The Courtauld and King’s, but with these numerous external participants.

The post-holder will also teach one of the MA’s core modules, entitled Histories of the Art Market. This module will provide students with a comprehensive overview of the development of art markets since the early modern period. The course will explore the histories of the British, European and North American art market, and might cover such topics as the rise of the art sale in in seventeenth-century Europe, the growth of an international print trade, the impact of the Grand Tour, the rise of auction houses such as Christie’s in eighteenth-century Britain, the emergence of exhibition culture, the role of the dealer in nineteenth-century London and Paris, the impact of war on the twentieth century art market and the growth of the American art market in the second half of the twentieth century. At the same time, the course will explore more global histories of the art market, and challenge the dominant historiographical narratives that have centred upon the traditional European and North American capitals of the art trade. As well as teaching this core module, the post-holder will teach an elective module focusing on a specialist area of their research, and contribute to our BA programme.

Applicants should articulate how their research and teaching would intersect with and take advantage of the world-famous collections of the Courtauld Gallery and other collections and resources in London. Applicants should also describe how, in delivering the new MA, they would engage with the Courtauld’s faculty and curatorial teams, many of whom have an interest in the workings of historic art markets. This is an excellent opportunity to establish a new field of excellence at The Courtauld and to take it in ambitious directions, with exciting potential relating to our new strategic relationship with King’s College London.

The Courtauld Institute of Art is the UK’s leading institution for teaching and research in Art History, Curating and Conservation. It is also home to one of the greatest art collections in the UK, which reopened to the public in November 2021 following a major transformation. The History of Art department has an outstanding research and teaching record from Late Antiquity to the Contemporary with an increasingly global outlook, and embraces its diversity of theoretical approaches and methodologies.

Teaching at The Courtauld takes a variety of forms, from small-group seminars, lectures, and tutorials, to teaching in front of works of art in galleries and museums both within the UK and internationally. The post-holder will also undertake research, supervise research students, participate in our thriving research community, and engage in activity that increases public awareness of and access to Courtauld resources, including the gallery.

Research-active faculty are entitled to regular sabbaticals from teaching. In addition, they are encouraged to apply for external grants and fellowships, supported by The Courtauld’s dedicated Research Department.

The Courtauld is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds as we have under-representation that we wish to address. The Courtauld warmly welcomes applicants from all backgrounds, including those through the Skilled Workers Route to work in the UK.

Applicants who are interested in discussing the role informally before submitting an application may contact Professor Alixe Bovey, Executive Dean and Deputy Director, on alixe.bovey@courtauld.ac.uk.