After studying chemistry at the University of Sussex, David Bomford spent almost four decades as senior conservator and curator at the National Gallery, London. He was Slade Professor of Fine Art at Oxford University in 1996-7. Subsequently, he became Associate Director for Collections at the J Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, and Chair of Conservation and European Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas. Since returning to the UK, he is a trustee of the Victoria and Albert Museum, and serves on the research committee of the British Museum.