The Slade Professorship of Fine Art was established in 1869 as the result of a generous bequest in the will of Felix Slade. A list of former holders of the Professorship in the past forty years is attached at the end of these further particulars. It is the intention of the Board of Electors to elect a Professor for each of the academic years 2025-26 to 2029-30.

The duty of the Professor is to deliver a series of public lectures as well as seminar classes on aspects of the History, Theory and Practice of Fine Arts (which can include architecture). It is expected that the lectures will form part of a new scholarly project and that they will not have been given in the same format elsewhere (or published) before they are given in Cambridge. The lectures must be given in Full Term and are open free of charge to all members of the University.