Amarilli Rava

Amarilli Rava is a Part-Time Lecturer in Wall Painting Conservation at The Courtauld Institute of Art's Department of Conservation of Wall Painting. Her research focuses on adhesion mechanisms in wall paintings, particularly involving organic adhesives and lime-based substrates. She holds a PhD from The Courtauld Institute of Art (2007-2010) and has conducted extensive studies on materials used in historical wall paintings, including Indian yellow and Mogao Grottoes pigment degradation. Rava has received numerous scholarships and awards since 2008, reflecting her contributions to conservation science. Her work combines analytical chemistry with practical restoration techniques, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to cultural heritage preservation.

• Education:
• PhD: 'Adhesion failure in wall paintings' (The Courtauld Institute of Art, 2007-2010)
• Masters: 'Re-adhesion interventions on wall paintings' (The Courtauld Institute of Art, 2012-ongoing)
• Dissertation: 'Study of pottery fabrics from Friday Mosque, Isfahan' (University of Naples L’Orientale)
• Research Focus:
• Organic adhesives for wall painting conservation
• Material degradation analysis
• Historical pigment composition
• Salt-induced flaking mechanisms
• Awards:
• Edmond J. Safra Philanthropic Foundation Scholarship (2016-2018)
• Headley & James Hughes-Hallett Scholarships (2015-2016)
• AHRC Doctoral Award (2013-2017)
• Grants:
• Multiple institutional scholarships from The Courtauld Institute of Art
• Labs/Teams:
• Department of Conservation of Wall Painting research group
• Collaborations on Mogao Grottoes conservation (China)