EA07_FED-tWIN_IOHANNES_V4.docx

The Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage (KIK-IRPA) & the Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain)

recruit 1 FTE researcher with a PhD in Art History

shared between the two institutions
50% Postdoctoral research assistant (UCLouvain) 50% SW2 Work Leader (KIK-IRPA)

in the framework of the
FED-tWIN research profile Prf-2022-0012-IOHANNES

About the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage (KIK-IRPA)

The Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage (KIK-IRPA) is based in Brussels. It is a federal scientific institution that takes care of Belgium’s artistic heritage. Since its foundation in 1948 the Institute’s approach is interdisciplinary, bringing together art historians, photographers, chemists, physicists, conservators-restorers, experts in image creation, engineers, geologists, etc. With the Center for the Study of the Flemish Primitives, KIK-IRPA boasts an internationally renowned research unit for the study and inventorying of 15th-century paintings from the Southern Low Countries. Three scholarly series on Flemish Primitives present the results of the various research projects of the Study Center: the Corpus, the Repertory and the Contributions.

See more on: https://www.kikirpa.be/en/study-center-flemish-primitives?lang=en

About the Université catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain)

The UCLouvain has a long tradition in the study of 15th-century Flemish painting. This field is today at the heart of the research carried out essentially within the framework of the Center for Cultural Analysis of Early Modernity (GEMCA). Since its creation 2008, the GEMCA has developed a strong and recognized expertise in the wide-ranging field of cultural analysis. Its members carried out and are currently leading several funded projects (FRFC-FNRS, Brain-Belspo, ARC, etc.) that have

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made it possible to investigate many facets of the relationship between the arts and religion in a resolutely interdisciplinary perspective and with the aim of renewing the methodologies for analyzing religious images and objects.
The center is currently co-directed by five full-time permanent staff members (Ralph Dekoninck, Ingrid Falque, Agnès Guiderdoni, Caroline Heering and Aline Smeesters). The team currently comprises twenty-three PhD students, five postdocs, five scientific collaborators, as well as a dozen associate members from other universities. They are historians, historians of art and of literature, and philosophers focusing their research on the late medieval and early modern visual and cultural studies.

See more on: https://uclouvain.be/fr/instituts-recherche/incal/gemca

Job description

The candidate has to be a postdoctoral researcher with a PhD in art history (or an equivalent degree indicating a specialization in the field of art historical research). He/she will be responsible for developing art historical research on Netherlandish paintings in their context of production and reception. The main mission of the FED-tWIN researcher is to launch an innovative interdisciplinary project about the collection of paintings of the Saint John’s Hospital in Bruges, of which all Memling paintings are currently undergoing a new scientific imagery campaign for Musea Brugge.

Within this project the goal is to bridge the gap between two different approaches in studies on 15th-century Netherlandish painting. The first one deals with technical art history, a specialisation of KIK-IRPA, studying the construction of the painting, the creative process, the underdrawing, the painting technique in order to find answers in terms of authenticity, attribution and dating. The focus of the second approach is not the question of ‘how’ a painting is made but ‘why’, an approach in which the UCLouvain and the GEMCA are specialized. This research deals with the intentions of the patron, the functions of the painting, its meanings and the way it was used in its original context. It involves devotional and ritual practices, and text/images relationships through an interdisciplinary approach between art history, literature and history of religions.

The final goal of the project is the publication of the overall research results in a monographic volume the series of the Corpus of Flemish Primitives, dedicated to the collection of the Saint John’s Hospital.

About the joint FED-tWIN profile “IOHANNES”

The Center for the Study of the Flemish Primitives of the KIK-IRPA and the GEMCA at the Institute INCAL (Institut des civilisations, arts et lettres) of the UCLouvain collaborate in the framework of the program FED-tWIN, funded by the belgian Federal Science Policy (BELSPO).

The research profile, called IOHANNES, will focus on early Netherlandish paintings in their original settings and on the ways of creating, viewing and using images in 15th-century southern Low Countries. The FED-tWIN program of BELSPO aims to promote sustainable cooperation between the ten Federal Scientific Institutions and the eleven Belgian universities through the funding of joint research profiles. The research profile Prf-2022-0012_IOHANNES is a joint initiative of the KIK-IRPA and

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UCLouvain. Dr. Bart Fransen (KIK-IRPA) and Prof. Dr. Ingrid Falque (UCLouvain) are the promoters.
The position to be filled consists of the combination of a half-time position at the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage (50% SW2 work leader) and a half-time position at UCLouvain (50% postdoctoral researcher). The candidate must be willing to hold the part-time positions at both institutions and must also apply for both.

The researcher will perform the following tasks:

• ●  The launch and coordination of an interdisciplinary research project about the collection of 15th-century Netherlandish paintings of the Saint John’s Hospital in Bruges.
• ●  The collaboration in research and exchange of expertise with colleagues of the KIK-IRPA, the UCLouvain, Musea Brugge and other partner institutions.
• ●  The writing of catalogue entries and essays for the publication of the results of the research on the collection of 15th-century Netherlandish paintings of the Saint John’s Hospital in Bruges.
• ●  The editorial coordination of the publication in the series of the Corpus of Flemish Primitives.
• ●  The writing of articles in scientific journals, exhibition catalogues, collective publications or in conference proceedings.
• ●  The organisation and participation in scholarly events (congresses, symposiums) at the Belgian and international levels, in the specific field of research of early Netherlandish painting.
• ●  The dissemination and valorization of the research results to the general public.
• ●  Active participation in the scientific activities of the Center for the Study of the Flemish Primitives and the GEMCA.
• ●  To stimulate research at doctoral and post-doctoral level by initiating new projects, promoting existing projects, and applying for national and international funding.
• ●  To encourage scientific cooperation at the national level with other centers or research groups working in the same field. Conditions for admission

• ●  The intended candidate must hold a EU degree of Doctor in Art History (or an equivalent degree indicating a specialization in the field of art historical research).
  When assessing a non-EU diploma, an equivalence certificate has to be requested from ENIC-NARIC; we recommend that you – if necessary – start the recognition procedure at ENIC-NARIC as soon as possible. You must have this recognition no later than the date of appointment. The PhD degree is obtained at the earliest 12 years prior to the submission of the job application with derogations. The 12-year period is extended by one year for each maternity, parental or adoption leave of the candidate and for each long-term sick leave of the candidate or his/her immediate family.
• ●  The intended candidate can be assigned to the French or to the Dutch language role, according to the rules set by the federal laws on the use of

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languages in the Belgian public administration. A good knowledge (written and spoken) of English, French and/or Dutch is required.

● The candidate must be willing to hold the two part-time positions at both institutions (KIK-IRPA, Brussels and UCLouvain, Louvain-la-Neuve) and must also apply for both through a single application, according to the procedure outlined here. Only applying for some and not all of the part-time positions is not possible.

Requested profile

• ●  Experience in conducting scientific research on early Netherlandish paintings at top level.
• ●  Excellent writing and communication skills both to a specialized audience (national and international scholarly community) and to a wider audience (local events, radio broadcasts, etc.).
• ●  Experience in the field of scientific animation: organization of symposiums, setting up of a national and international network, setting up of exhibitions, etc.
• ●  Considered as a plus: the candidate has relevant experience within a cultural heritage institution, in object-based research in interdisciplinary collaboration.
• ●  It is recommended to have experience in international mobility, including through participation in research programs at research institutions not affiliated with the university where the highest degree was obtained.
• ●  Research experience in the most recent trends in the study of early Netherlandish painting, especially in iconography, meaning and function of art objects.
• ●  Good knowledge of the art production of the 15th century in an international context.
• ●  Interest in technical research on art objects (scientific imagery, technical and material analyses). We offer

• ●  A FTE contract of indefinite duration, half-time at the UCLouvain as Postdoctoral Researcher and half-time at the KIK-IRPA as Work Leader (SW2) starting in Fall 2023.
• ●  A monthly gross salary of at least € 2.656,50 at the Royal Institute for Cultural Heritage, and of at least € 2.132 at UCLouvain, to which are added the holiday allowance and the end-of-year bonus.
• ●  Variable working hours during the week of 38 hours (19 hours at IRPA and 19 hours at UCLouvain).
• ●  Place of work: KIK-IRPA in Brussels ; UCLouvain in Louvain-la-Neuve.
• ●  Free public transport to and from work and possibility of obtaining a bicycle allowance (KIK-IRPA and UCLouvain).
• ●  Group hospitalization insurance and other benefits (KIK-IRPA and UCLouvain).

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How to apply?

The selection procedure will be carried out in the first instance on the basis of an assessment of the application file and in the second instance on an interview that will take place in Brussels at KIK-IRPA on 23 January 2023.

Candidates must send their application by Sunday 31 December 2023 at the latest, by e-mail to Ingrid Falque (ingrid.falque@uclouvain.be), quoting the reference « Application for the profile IOHANNES« .

This application must include the following documents in pdf:

1. aletterofmotivation
2. afullCV
3. acopyofyourMasterandPhDdiplomas
4. adescription(inmaximum500words)oftwoofyourmainresearchprojects
5. copies of maximum three of your publications related to early Netherlandish painting
6. names, positions and e-mail addresses of two referees (no letters of reference)

Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
KIK-IRPA and UCLouvain pursue an equal opportunities and diversity policy and therefore encourage everyone to apply.

Contact

Prof. Dr. Ingrid Falque
Research associate of the FNRS and professor of medieval art history ingrid.falque@uclouvain.be

Dr. Bart Fransen
Head of the Center for the Study of the Flemish Primitives, KIK-IRPA, Brussels bart.fransen@kikirpa.be