I am forwarding a message from Historic England to announce the passing of Sharon Cather. If you would like to contribute to the memory of Sharon, tributes and photographs can be sent to David Park at [email protected].
Many people in many different countries will have been shocked and saddened to hear that, after a period of serious illness, Professor Sharon Cather passed away on the 6th of June 2019. Sharon’s contributions to the conservation field are impossible to summarise, being as wide-ranging as they were incisive. Together with Professor David Park, in 1985 she set up the seminal Conservation of Wall Painting Department at the Courtauld Institute of Art, training generations of postgraduate students from all across the world and undertaking ground-breaking research into all aspects of wall painting conservation (from history and technique to preventive conservation, in which discipline she was a pioneer). Sharon never stopped applying her formidable intellect, energy and enthusiasm to finding ways of doing things better, always setting the bar higher for both herself and her students, and yet never failing to deliver extraordinary results. We in the conservation world – especially those lucky enough to have worked closely with her, and to have known her as a friend as well as a teacher – are very much the poorer for her passing. Sharon’s unique character and achievements will be commemorated in a number of ways, including financial support for outstanding students in the conservation field (a cause close to Sharon’s heart, as many can already attest). Sharon’s many friends will also be organising a two-day conference in her honour, to be held in London towards the end of the year. This will not only celebrate her life and work, but will also map out a path into the future of wall-painting conservation. We know that she would want us to look forward as well as backwards, just as she always did herself! If you would like to be kept informed about these plans, or would like to be actively involved in bringing them to fruition, please contact David Park at [email protected] With kindest regards, Robyn Pender Sophie Godfraind ****** Unsubscribe by sending a message to [email protected] Searchable archives: http://cool.conservation-us.org/byform/mailing-lists/cdl/
