Warburg Institute, University of London

Research Assistant in Art History (fixed term, 3 years)

The Production and Reading of Polyphonic Music Sources, 1480–1530 (PRoMS)

Applications are invited for a research assistantship in Art History, as part
of this major research project funded by the AHRC.

The research project is conducted in partnership between Bangor University
and the Warburg Institute (University of London), in collaboration with the
Digital Image Archive of Medieval Music (DIAMM) and the Centre for Computing
in the Humanities (King's College, London). It will present the first
systematic study of mise-en-page – the ways in which verbal text, musical
notation and other graphic devices interact on the written or printed page –
for sources of polyphonic music from the period c.1480-1530; it will also
investigate how meaning was and is constructed by readers and performers on
the basis of this interaction.

The successful candidate will, in collaboration with the other members of the
research team, contribute to an online catalogue of mise-en-page information
for all extant sources from this period, providing above all descriptions of
the initials, borders, and other visual devices present in the manuscripts.
S/he will also research and analyse a number of manuscript sources and their
layout in detail with regard to strategies of production and use; the results
of this research will be published both in print form and in an online
environment.

The appointee, based at the Warburg Institute, will be an art historian with
a doctorate or equivalent qualification; s/he will have specialist knowledge
of art of the 15th and 16th centuries, specifically of manuscript
illumination. Expertise in codicology, or a willingness to acquire such
expertise, will be essential, as will be some knowledge of Latin and of
paleography; an interest in music of the period and knowledge of musical
notation would be desirable. The candidate will be encouraged to develop
his/her own research within the context of the project.

The post will begin on 1 December 2010 or as soon as possible thereafter. It
is tenable for a fixed term of three years. The appointment will be to Level
7 (Research), currently £28,983–35,646 p.a. plus London Allowance of £2,134
p.a., making a total of £31,117–37,780 p.a.

Further details of the project, the studentship and how to apply can be found
at http://warburg.sas.ac.uk/. Informal
enquiries may be addressed to the
project director, Professor Thomas Schmidt-Beste, at mus205bangor.ac.uk.

The closing date for receipt of applications is Monday, 1 November 2010, and
interviews will be held in London on Thursday, 11 November 2010.