
Julie Fitzgerald ACR
Projects
About Me
Hello! my name is Julie, I am an experienced conservator of works on paper and parchment. Following on from A levels I had the good fortune to study paper and parchment conservation for 4 years at Camberwell College of Arts, London. After graduation I worked in paper conservation in Australia.Travels took me to the USA were I was fortunate to receive a John Paul Getty Advanced scholarship in the conservation of works on paper and parchment in MA for a couple of great formative years. After a year or so working in London for private conservators, I accepted the position to run paper conservation at TePapa, the National Museum of NZ, and spent over 8 happy years there.
On my return to the UK I set up Fitzgerald Conservation, specializing in the preservation of paper and parchment. At the same time I undertook a Masters in English and French historic Interiors, immersing myself in the styles and presentation of 18th century works of art.
I enjoy working for cultural and artistic charities; museums, galleries, library’s, scientific institutions and collectors with a passion for the preservation of our culture heritage.
Client Testimonials
This eighteenth century pastel by the famous Danish artist Jens Juel was in something of a sorry state. Two hundred years of dirt, re-backed at some point with an inappropriate glue stuck to the support had caused cockling and glue spots to appear on the pastel surface, disfiguring the delicacy of the portrait. Julie removed the backing and the various glue spots, flattened the paper support and cleaned the surface restoring it to a luminosity and harmony it had lost. I am most delighted with her work and hope the pastel will look as good as it does now for another 200 years or more, all of this combined with a warm and friendly service.
Kris J. E. Gavin
Conservation of an 18th century pastel portraitThe item in need of conservation was a fragile and wrinkled lithographic print from 1913 by the Russian avant-garde artist Natalia Goncharova to illustrate a satirical poem, intentionally printed on poor-quality paper to subvert the sensibilities of the time. Conservation was complicated by the fact that another agit-prop poem from early Soviet times, handwritten in ink about 25 years later by yet another writer known to both poet and artist, is inscribed on the back of the print. Julie was able to restore the sheet to a flat surface and very delicately - and impressively - mount it within a Japanese tissue surround to enable the print to be framed so that both sides can be viewed to illuminate a complex period of social history. I am very pleased with the result, and now feel confident about the integrity and stability of the print - thank you, Julie!
Stephen Jusypiw
Conservation of a lithographic print with handwritten poem on reverse.Training
Camberwell College of Art, Paper Conservation specialising in the treatment of flat works of art and historic artefacts on paper and parchment
Work History
Victoria and Albert Museum, London U.K.
National Maritme Museum, Sydney, Australia
Te Papa, Museum of New Zealand, Wellington,, New Zealand.
The Wellcome Trust, London, U.K.
Historic Royal Palaces on contract, London, U.K.