ABOUT THE WALTERS ART MUSEUM
The Walters Art Museum is among America's most distinctive museums, forging connections between people and art from cultures around the world and spanning seven millennia. Located in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon neighborhood, the Walters is free for all. The museum’s campus includes five historic buildings and 36,000 art objects.
Today, the Walters serves Baltimore and Maryland by embracing its role as educator and storyteller, using the collection as a vehicle of knowledge and cultural expression to support learning, dialogue, and community engagement. The museum is committed to public education, offering essential programs that help people to connect art to their lives. The Walters Visitor Promise aligns staff and volunteers across the museum to preserve and share the works in our care for future generations, partner with communities, and create welcoming, accessible experiences for visitors. The museum offers challenging and creative work opportunities by promoting collaboration and teamwork.
OVERVIEW OF ROLE
The James A. Murnaghan Curator of Renaissance and Baroque Art oversees a collection of over 3,000 works of European art from the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The collection includes paintings, sculpture, furniture, timepieces, ceramics, metalwork, enamels, coins and medals, glass, jewelry, and arms and armor. The majority of these works of art are part of the core historic collection amassed by William (1819-1894) and Henry Walters (1848-1931) that Henry bequeathed to the City of Baltimore upon his death. The Walters’ holdings of Italian paintings are particularly significant, many of which were acquired by Henry Walters in 1902 with the Massarenti Collection. Subsequent additions to the collection have been donated by generous collectors, notably Dr. Francis D. Murnaghan, or acquired by purchase. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with curators in other collections areas and with colleagues across the museum to research, care for, display, and interpret the collection with a visitor focus.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
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Deepens understanding of the Renaissance and Baroque collection and shares that knowledge more broadly with visitors, staff, and volunteers across the museum.
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With Curatorial and Interpretation team members, facilitates consideration and interpretation of the Renaissance and Baroque collections through an approach informed by current scholarship in the field, along with global approaches to the period
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Undertakes regular collections surveys to identify strengths and areas for potential development
- Recommends objects for accession/acquisition and de-accession
- Reviews and updates catalogue records in TMS
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Proposes and develops projects, including exhibitions, publications, and programs that create opportunities for deeper engagement with the collection
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Engages in the ongoing campus-wide reinstallation of galleries, and in collaboration with other curators, educators, and conservators, proposes and develops a possible plan for the display and interpretation of the permanent collection
- Maintains a professional profile in the field of Renaissance and Baroque art: publishes; presents at national and international conferences; gives gallery talks and lectures at the Walters; and works cross-divisionally to communicate new research to staff
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Evaluates loan requests from other institutions
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Works with conservators to identify objects for treatment
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Works with conservators and registrars to monitor the condition of objects on view and in storage
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With Advancement, works to identify and cultivate potential donors of works of art and/or financial support through various activities, including but not limited to giving talks and tours at the museum and offsite, engaging with collectors, and participation in donor events
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Fosters the research culture of the Walters by supervising and mentoring fellows and interns
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Participates in and contributes to courses taught in the Mid-Atlantic region
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Responds to public inquiries about the collection
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Perform duties in the galleries, in storage, in classrooms, and in both public and private settings within the community as needed.
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All other duties as assigned.
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Ph. D. or equivalent with demonstrated experience
- Minimum 3-5 years' experience working in a museum, gallery, or academic institution.
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Expertise in Renaissance and Baroque art, with particular focus on the artistic production of northern and southern Europe, as well as an awareness of and openness to global approaches to the early modern period.
- Facility with recent ideas and methods common to the practice of art history and/or other academic disciplines related to the study of the arts.
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Demonstrated fluency in English, both in terms of writing and speaking; additional competency in one or more languages relevant to the collection area desired.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
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Ability to communicate comfortably and confidently with members of the public, with academic/museum peer group, with museum donors and supporters, and with other museum staff.
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Ability to negotiate, to think in a strategic and progressive manner, and to advocate for a particular course of action.
SCHEDULED SHIFT
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Monday- Friday 9 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (variable)
ANNUAL STARTING SALARY $82,000
The Walters Art Museum provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, prescription, vision, subsidized transportation and parking, museum membership, short term disability, long-term disability, life insurance, FSA (flexible spending account), 457b retirement, and free professional financial management counseling.
All employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States. The museum does not sponsor work visas.
This position will remain open until filled. Please submit application materials by August 31st for full consideration.
