Women Conservators between Europe and Italy, 1750-1970
The conference “Women Conservators between Europe and Italy, 1750-1970” is hosted by the Sapienza University of Rome and organised by an interdisciplinary team of scholars. It will take place on the 14th to 15th of May 2026 and aims to create a platform for exchange between art historians, conservators, heritage professionals, and researchers interested in the historical and theoretical dimensions of conservation practice, placing special emphasis on women’s involvement.
Over the past decades, feminist scholarship has significantly reshaped art history and heritage studies. Nevertheless, the historical and defining contributions of women to conservation and restoration practices, which can be traced back to the eighteenth century, remain largely underexplored and unevenly documented. While a few individual figures have attracted scholarly attention, a broader and more systematic understanding of women’s roles in the conservation of cultural heritage across Europe is still lacking.
This conference aims to address this gap by bringing together researchers working on the history of conservation, restoration practices, and professional networks, with a particular focus on women active between 1750 and 1970. By highlighting women’s often-overlooked contributions, the event seeks to enrich current narratives of conservation history and to encourage further research in this emerging field. Placing Italian case studies within a broader European framework, the conference promotes comparative approaches and an interdisciplinary dialogue.
Proposals may address, but are not limited to, the following topics:
- Women conservators active in Italy or Europe between 1750 and 1970
- Institutional frameworks such as laboratories, restoration sites, museum, and archives
- Restoration of paintings, works on paper, textiles, decorative arts, frescoes, sculpture, and architectural heritage
- Patronage networks, professional collaborations, and working relationships within state heritage institutions
- Conservation methodologies, diagnostic practices, and operational protocols
- Family based workshops and intergenerational transmission of skills and knowledge
- Comparative and transnational case studies
To apply please submit an abstract (max. 300 words) alongside with a short biography (max. 150 words) to convegnorestauratrici@gmail.com. The deadline of submission is Feburary 15th, 2026. Conference papers may be written in either English or Italian and are intended for publication following the event.