Name: Masterpiece or Forgery? with The Courtauld’s Aviva Burnstock
Start: 2026-03-12T19:00:00+00:00
Location: Ferens Art Gallery

$Masterpiece or Forgery? with The Courtauld\u2019s Aviva Burnstock$

Join Professor Aviva Burnstock—leading specialist in painting conservation at The Courtauld and expert contributor to BBC1’s Fake or Fortune—for a captivating exploration of how science reveals the true stories behind works of art.
This talk uncovers how advanced technical analysis, from microscopy and X radiography to infrared, UV imaging and elemental mapping, can distinguish masterpieces from forgeries and trace the physical history of a painting. These techniques shed light on artists’ materials and methods, reveal how artworks change over time, and inform the conservation decisions that shape how we see them today.
Professor Burnstock brings decades of expertise to the subject. Her career spans the National Gallery, London, a prestigious Joop Los Fellowship in Amsterdam, and extensive research into artists’ techniques and conservation practice. She holds a PhD from The Courtauld, a background in neurobiology, and was awarded the Plowden Medal for Conservation in 2025.
Suitable for ages 12+
Tickets £8, booking essential
Ticket prices have been subsidised by Colliderfest.