Hamilton Kerr Institute

Academic Staff

 

Research description

Mary has a degree in the History of art and Fine art from the University of Reading (1972-1976). She has a postgraduate diploma in the Conservation of Easel Paintings from the Hamilton Kerr Institute (1977-1980) and was intern at the Akademie der bildenden Kunste, Vienna (1980). From 1981 she has worked as a freelance conservator at the Hamilton Kerr Institute in the Institute’s London studio and in Cambridge. Since 2003 she has taught and supervised students, becoming a full time member of staff in 2008.

Her interests include artists techniques and the use of tempera as a retouching medium.

Select Publications

• M Kempski The Art of Tempera Retouching, Mixing and Matching: Approaches to Retouching Paintings, ed. R Ellison, P Smithen and R Turnbull, Archetype Publications Ltd. 2010
• M Kempski and M L Sauerberg Past care and treatment of the Westminster Retable from the Middle Ages to the twentieth century, Painting and Practice: The Westminster Retable: History, Technique, Conservation, ed. P Binski & A Massing, HKI & Harvey Miller, London-Turnhout 2009: pp. 203-214
• M L Sauerberg, A Roy, M Spring, S Bucklow and M Kempski Materials and techniques, Painting and Practice: The Westminster Retable: History, Technique, Conservation, ed. P Binski & A Massing, HKI & Harvey Miller, London-Turnhout 2009: pp. 233-251
• M L Sauerberg, M Kempski with R Marchant, J Dillon and S Davison Treatment of the Westminster Retable , Painting and Practice: The Westminster Retable: History, Technique, Conservation, ed. P Binski & A Massing, HKI & Harvey Miller, London-Turnhout 2009: pp. 372-391
• M Kempski Retouching Mediums, Retouching Mediums, post-prints of the Icon and ABPCR conference 2005
• S Bucklow, M Kempski Summary of Technique, Paint Layers, Condition, Its Divers Arts, Patterns of Loss (chapters) and Board Dimensions, Chalk Ground, Lead Isotopes and Underdrawing (appendices), The Thornham Parva Retable, ed. A Massing, Harvey Miller, London 2004
• M Kempski Reconstruction of St Edmund: towards an understanding of the visibility of the underdrawing and a demonstration of the paint layer technique, The Thornham Parva Retable, Technique, conservation and context of an English medieval painting, ed. A Massing 2003: pp. 54-66
• M Kempski and A T da Silva Treatment, The Thornham Parva Retable, Technique, conservation and context of an English medieval painting, ed. A Massing 2003: pp. 74-92
• M Kempski Tempera Retouching, Retouching and Filling Conference, post-prints to the ABPR conference 2001
• B Ormsby and M Kempski The comission and restoration of six portraits of the daughters of George III, by Sir William Beechey, Hamilton Kerr Institute Bulletin, number 3, ed. A Massing, Hamilton Kerr Institute, University of Cambridge 2000: pp. 107-118
• M Allden (Kempski) and R Beresford Two altar-pieces by Phillipe de Champaigne: their history and technique, The Burlington Magazine, June 1989: pp. 395-406