ABSTRACT


  The  doctoral  thesis  "Gianluigi Colalucci y su  trayectoria  restauradora"  intends  to  offer a view  into one of  the most  significant times of the italian  
  restoration history, from  the years o  f the Central  Intitute of  Restoration - managed by Mr. Cesare Brandi - back in the  50's to the present days. 
  This thesis, and idea of Ms. Pilar Roig, insert itself within the framework of studies and surveys carried out on important personalities among restores,
  so becoming  subject  of interest in  the past few  years'  university  activities  such  as the creation of  the  Italian  and  European  Restorers  Historic
  Archive, promoted  by the Secco  Suardo foundation. Through  the study of Mr. Colalucci's  personality  as  a restorer, it  is  possible  to  follow   the 
  evolution of techniques and scientific research in the field of restoration.

  The thesis is developed in six chapters;  the first entitled " the  training years" about  the beginning at  the C.I.R.  and  the teaching of Mr. Brandi,  the
  second  "the Sicilian time"  reporting  about  the  complex  job  carried out  by Mr. Colalucci  without   much  experience  in Palermo, Sicily,  the third 
  " the Vatican" where it's  possible  to follow  the work carried out  inside the  restoration lab in  the  Vatican  Museums in 1960,  before  the restoration 
  of Michelangelo's  frescos in 1980, the  fourt chapter  "Rome and the Trust  from 1965 to 1985" where the work of Mr. Colalucci and his commitment at 
  the Vatican Museum is analyzed, the fifth chapter "the Sistine" is entirely dedicated to the restoring of Michelangelo's frescos inside the Sistine Chapel
  and  the controversy  witnessed by the correspondence between  Mr. Colalucci and James Beck, sharp opponent to the restoration activity, the sixth 
  chapter  entitled   "beyond the Sisine"  where  Mr. Colalucci's  works  after  Sistine  chapels and the Vatican  are  reported (this is as open chapter as
  Mr. Colalucci's activity is still on-going).

  As a  conclusion of  the long path of Mr. Colalucci's professional  life it appears clear that the time of restorers of excellence is about to end,  as if it's 
  true on one hand that they have been an inpiration  for young talents, on the  other hand  we surrender to the present cultural  flattening  of  the society 
  and the trend  towards   relying  upon  scientific  research rather   than  human analytic  abilities,  not  taking into consideration  the  actual  abilities  of
  the professional when assigning a restoration work, thus stopping any incentive to  the hard commitment  this job requires  to  those  who love it carry
  it to  the utmost; for the sake of the work of art itself first.