Provenance Research Graduate Intern - Fall 2026 - Spring 2027

Museum of Fine Arts•Boston, MA

3d•$0 - $20•Onsite

About The Position

The study of provenance is a traditional part of art historical research, as an object’s chain of ownership can inform a scholarly understanding of the work of art itself: its function, condition, and its place in the history of taste and collecting. The Museum believes that the interests of the public are served by collecting according to the highest standards of ethical and professional practice, in accordance with all applicable law, and in such a way that provides no direct and material incentive to looting or theft. To that end, the Department of Provenance seeks a graduate research intern who desires a deeper familiarity with the history of ownership of works of art. Working under the Chair for Provenance, the research intern will have the opportunity to learn first-hand about museum work, provenance research, and digital resources. Interns will refine their research skills but are expected to be familiar with art historical research tools and methods before beginning. The successful candidate will be mature, detail-oriented, adept with technology and administrative tasks, and will have a demonstrated interest in art museum work. As we amplify our efforts toward becoming a truly inclusive institution and fostering the next generation of museum staff, the MFA actively encourages students from all backgrounds to apply to the program.

Requirements

Enrollment in a graduate program (concurrent with the internship period), in art history or recent completion (within last six months) of a BA or MA program in art history.
Curatorial work experience in an art museum or gallery (paid or volunteer), with familiarity using collections management software and cataloguing practices.
Excellent organizational skills.
Strong reading knowledge of German and/or French.
Ability to read handwriting.
Demonstrated awareness of art historical research methods.
Ability to commit to a regular schedule of two seven-hour days per week.
Ability to work onsite 14 hours per week, within Tuesday through Friday, 9am-5pm parameters, between Sept 11, 2026 – May 14, 2027.
Graduate interns are required to attend the following professional development sessions during the semester: Orientation on Sept 18, Meet the Leadership Team (date to be announced at orientation), and Final Presentations on Dec 4.
Ability to attend orientation on Fri, Sept 11, 2026, 10am to 3:30pm.

Responsibilities

Researching, formatting, and fact-checking provenance information for hard-copy files, the MFA collections database, and online records, focusing on European and American works of art.
Compiling and entering data related to the provenance of potential incoming loans.
Compiling and entering data related to previous owners of works of art.
Using digital resources to augment provenance records and hard-copy curatorial files.
Assisting with daily tasks as needed.
Prepare and offer a 3–5-minute final synoptic presentation of the internship as part of the Museum Pathways & Practices professional development course.