Clelia Giacobini

Clelia Giacobini (6 February 1931 – 25 September 2010) was an Italian microbiologist, and also a pioneer of microbiology applied to conservation-restoration.

Clelia Giacobini was born in Rome and graduated in Pharmacy and Biology at Sapienza University; subsequently she also obtained a PhD in Herbal medicine and a certificate of Soil microbiology at the Institut Pasteur in Paris (1969).

In the fifties, Cesare Brandi, Director and founder of Central Institute of Restoration - ICR Rome (now Istituto Superiore per la Conservazione ed il Restauro-ISCR"), thought to set up a laboratory of Microbiology in the Institute. Clelia Giacobini participated in its creation (1957).

In 1959, Giacobini remained as the only component of the laboratory staff. At the same time, she was given the teaching of biology in the School of ICR, which she held until retirement (1995), for 36 years. In 1964 the laboratory was required by law and Clelia Giacobini officially took over its direction.

Before the establishment of the microbiology laboratory at the ICR Rome, there was no literature on the biological alterations of art works. For that reason, Clelia Giacobini could be considered a "pioneer" of microbiology applied to conservation science. In 1961 there were the first lab results, listing microbial types that were considered responsible for biological alterations after extensive research on the archaeological and architectural monuments in Rome (Domus Tiberiana, Domus Flavia, Domus Aurea, San Clemente, monumental fountains, etc..).

In 1965, as a result of more investigations, it was defined a first methodology: 1) inspection in situ and collection of samples; 2) microscopic examination of samples in the laboratory; 3) cultural isolation of drawings; 4) identification of the organisms. In 1967 she made public the results of further studies involving the definition of the five most typical phenomena of microbial spoilage on the frescoes. In 1970 the laboratory began to develop new and more refined technical and analytical methods, represented mainly by the application of scanning electron microscope, which already allowed the immediate diagnosis of the alteration and the chance to study all microorganisms in their natural environment. Later in the seventies, the workshop arranged to review the phenomenology of alterations in the appearance of biodeterioration, deepening our understanding of nutritional and environmental factors that favor the attack of biological agents.

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