The higher education of restorers in our country has a rather short history. Till 1965, when the first restoration departments appeared at art educational institutions of Moscow and Leningrad, the preparation of restorers was traditionally carried out at studios by training.
     The new stage in the development of restoration in our country took place in 1960-1970, when progressive ideas started developing actively and restoration business began to be comprehended theoretically. It was in 1969 when the restoration department for preparation of artists - restorers of painting and architectural monuments was established for the first time in Ukraine in the Kiev art institute.
     The organiser and first head of the restoration department and chair became the candidate in art criticism, senior lecturer of the faculty of the theory and history of art of the Kiev art institute O. Tyshchenko, which developed a general direction of preparation of the artists - restorers of easel and monumental painting on the basis of domestic and foreign experience, outlined a circle of special disciplines, created the first program and appropriate educational plan, supplied educational process with equipment and materials, invited the skilled restorers for teaching. Generated at O. Tyshchenko times educational process from the point of view of the basic professional disciplines and structure of degree work is practised until now.
     The structural submission of the chair repeatedly changed: in 1969-1972 it was registered at the architectural faculty, in 1972-1974 - at the pedagogical one, in 1974-1988 - at the faculty of the theory and history of art, and from 1988 and till today - at the faculty of painting.
     The restorers P. Voytko, S. Glushchuk, I. Demydchuk-Demchuk, O. Petukhov, V. Stratiychuk taught at the chair in different times; O. Biletska and V. Ukrainsky taught special scientific - natural disciplines for a long time. In 1981 the graduate of the pedagogical faculty A. Beliay became the teacher and after the death of O. Tyshchenko occupied the post of the head of the department, headed the chair and the studio of restoration of painting, was the constant supervisor of degree works up to his pension retire in 1994 on a condition of health.
     Since 1994 the chair of technique and restoration of works of art is managed by the senior lecturer M. Tytov; the restorations of products of painting are taught by the senior lecturers of the chair, candidates in art criticism Yu. Koreniuk, T. Tymchenko, senior teacher V. Liush (all - graduates of the chair), senior teacher, artist - restorer of a higher category V. Tsytovych. The course of the history, theory and ethics of restoration, and also museum business is given by the senior teacher, candidate in art criticism L. Ganzenko. The chemical methods of research and technology of materials of painting are taught by the senior lecturer, candidate in chemical sciences M. Balakina, physical-optical and biological methods of research - senior teacher, candidate in physical sciences V. Volnevych, special photoshooting - S. Nerezov.
     The master of industrial training, the expert in restoration of wooden products V. Kovalev and O. Vyslobodov - the foreman of industrial training at first, and since 1994 - the teacher of Byzantian, old-Russia and baroque icon painting techniques of the restoration department and studio of cathedral painting, supervised by the academician, professor M. Storozhenko work there for a long time. M. Kovalenko, the keeper, secretary of restoration council is engaged in the questions of preservation and account of museum exhibits, documentation and relations with museums.
     Except for studio of restoration of products of painting (leader - senior lecturer M. Tytov), which existed from the creation of the department, the studio of restoration of products of decorative - applied art (leader - senior lecturer, restorer of higher category O. Minzhulin) was open at the chair in 1994.
     Alongside with obligatory general educational courses and the ones on speciality, the students take possession of special disciplines, such as copying (with the purpose of mastering technique of classical oil and tempera painting), specialized courses on history, theory and ethics of restoration, museum business, chemistry, physics, biology, photo business in particular. The manual experience, which forms the basis of high-sensitivity restoration craft, is got during studying on restoration under the direction of the teachers with the help of educational samples and museum exhibits.
     The students study technology of restoration of products of easel painting (oil and tempera) on linen and wooden bases. The knowledge, acquired during training, is embodied in degree work, which provides restoration of two monuments (on a canvas and on a wood), and also copying in the technique of classical many coating painting.
     In November 1995 the international scientific - practical conference " Vocational Training of the restorers and urgent problems of restoration practice " was organized by the chair, where representatives of the leading restoration and educational institutions of Ukraine, Poland, Italy took part. The materials of the conference were published in the collection " The Ukrainian art academy. Research and scientific - methodical works " (Edition # 3. - K., 1996).
     Since 1994, the graduates of the chair have an opportunity to enter assistance-probationer and post-graduate courses. The program for the Master's education is prepared which the most capable students during training can possess.
     The former students of the chair successfully realize themselves in the field of restoration of works of art: copying and reproduction of easel and monumental painting in historical art styles, work as the experts in the appropriate establishments of Ukraine and many countries of the world. The citizens of other countries also studied and study at the restoration department.
     The former graduates of the chair work in leading posts on speciality. Thus Yu. Vakulenko occupies a post of the director of the Centre of restoration and examination of State historical-cultural reserve " Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra ", V. Romashchenko is the head of the restoration studio of this centre, A. Kvasiuk is the chief of the restoration studio of the Volynsk regional knowing museum.
     From the time of the establishment of the department more than 1000 exhibits from the funds of academy, of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra state historical-cultural reserve, Museum of people's architecture and life of Ukraine, National museum of the history of Ukraine, Chernygiv art museum, Chernygiv historical-cultural reserve, Volynsk, Bila Tserkva, Zhytomyr, Prylutsk, Fastiv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Dnepropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk regional knowing museums, memorial museum of G. Svitlytsky, and museum of I. Gonchar (Kyiv), and also from churches of Kyiv and private collections were restored
     Except for development, educational programs, the teachers of faculty publish their works on problems of education of restorers, techniques of painting, research of works of art, history and theory of restoration etc.; the methodical help to similar educational institutions in other cities of Ukraine is carried out; the modern techniques of restoration and research of works of art are consistently put into operation and improved. The manuals by M. Tytov " Technique of yolk tempera icon painting", and M. Balakina " The chemical-technological researches of products of easel painting" are prepared for edition.