Francesca DELL'ACQUA | Curriculum

Francesca Dell’Acqua è Professore Associato di Storia dell’Arte Medievale e Bizantina presso l'Università di Salerno; è Delegato all'Internazionalizzazione del Dipartimento di Scienze del Patrimonio Culturale.

È titolare dell'Abilitazione a Professore Ordinario di Storia dell'Arte (ASN 2018–20).

Dottore di ricerca presso la Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa (2001), e membro di prestigiosi centri di ricerca – tra cui Dumbarton Oaks-Harvard University, la Bibliotheca Hertziana/Max-Planck Institut für Kunstgeschichte, il Kunsthistorisches Institut Florenz/Max-Planck-Institut, l'American Academy in Rome – studia le culture visive e materiali e le credenze e pratiche religiose del Mediterraneo orientale e dell’Occidente tra Tarda Antichità e Medioevo. Tramite un’attenta esegesi di parole, immagini, idee e credenze, persegue un approccio interdisciplinare eminentemente storico-culturale.

Ha pubblicato e curato studi sulle origini delle vetrate tra Occidente e Bisanzio, le produzioni artigianali monastiche, l'impatto dello Pseudo-Dionigi sulle culture visive di Bisanzio e dell'Occidente tra il 500-900, il Volto Santo di Edessa, l’oreficeria tardo bizantina, gli avori nel Mediterraneo medievale, la reazione del papato e dei monaci italiani all'iconoclastia bizantina e l'emergere della Vergine Maria come principale intercessore nell’altomedioevo, tra Bisanzio e l’Occidente.

Nel 2025 è stata eletta "Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London" tramite un processo selettivo e segreto di scrutinio da parte dei Fellows; il titolo riconosce risultati significativi in ​​ambito archeologico, storico o del patrimonio culturale.

Nel 2020, ai fini della VQR–Valutazione della Qualità della Ricerca dell’università italiana (2015–19), è stata selezionata come unico coordinatore per la valutazione dei prodotti di ricerca nel campo della Storia dell'Arte Medievale nel Gruppo degli Esperti Valutatori–GEV Area 10 Scienze dell'antichità, filologico-letterarie e storico-artistiche, Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca.

Nel 2015–17 ha vinto la borsa Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowship (n° 657240, ‘ICONOPHILIA’) della Commissione Europea presso il Centre for Byzantine, Ottoman and Modern Greek Studies, School of History and Cultures, College of Arts and Law, University of Birmingham. Insieme a un anno di sabbatico (2017–18) concesso dall'Università di Salerno, questo periodo le ha consentito di finalizzare la monografia Iconophilia: Politics, Religion, Preaching, and the Use of Images in Rome c.680–880. Birmingham Byzantine and Ottoman Studies 27, London and New York, Routledge, 2020, 416 pp. Per questa monografia, nel 2023 l'Accademia dei Lincei, Roma, le ha attribuito il Premio Mario Di Nola ("per un'opera letteraria, filosofica o storica").

La sua prima monografia Illuminando colorat. La vetrata tra la tarda Antichità e l’alto Medioevo attraverso le fonti e l’archeologia (Spoleto, Centro Italiano di Studi per l’Altomedioevo, 2003), ha vinto il Premio Hahn della Bibliotheca Hertziana/Max-Planck Institut.

Attualmente (2026) sta curando un volume nella serie Dumbarton Oaks Symposia and Colloquia per la Harvard University: Hypapante: Celebrating the Presentation of the Infant Christ in the Temple, East and West, sulla festa della Candelora tra Oriente e Occidente, ossia sulla sua celebrazione, rappresentazioni visive e il suo impatto sulla vita sociale e religiosa di varie comunità.

A Dicembre 2025 è stata invitata a tenere la 15th Kurt Weitzmann Memorial Lecture alla Università di Princeton. Tra i precedenti relatori vi erano Elizabeth Bolman​ (Temple Universit​y), Robin Cormack​ (Courtauld Institute London), Anthony Cutler​ (Pennsylvania State University), Sible de Blaauw​ (Radboud Universit​y), Liz James​ (Univ. of Sussex), Ioli Kalavrezou​ (Harvard University, Herbert L. Kessler​ (Johns Hopkins University), Thomas Matthews​ (Institute of Fine Arts, NYU), Lawrence Nees​ (University of Delaware), Robert Nelson​ (Yale University), Gerhard Wolf​ (KHI, Max-Planck-Institut).

Un progetto comunitario da lei avviato e co-diretto, "Crossroads of Empires: The Longobard Church of S. Ambrogio, Montecorvino Rovella, Italy", nato come collaborazione tra l'Università di Salerno, l'Università di Birmingham e il Comune di Montecorvino e sostenuto dalla British Academy e dalla Gerda Henkel Stiftung, ha ricevuto una "Menzione speciale – Categoria Ricerca" agli European Heritage Awards – Europa Nostra (2020).

La sua nomina a presidente del New Initiatives Working Group (2023-25) e quindi dell'International Engagement Committee (2025–27) dell'International Center of Medieval Art–MET The Cloisters, New York, mirato a ideare iniziative per rendere la storia dell'arte e le discipline umanistiche rilevanti oggi a livello internazionale, le consente rimanere attenta ai bisogni culturali di studenti/studiosi di estrazione diversa ma anche della società in generale.

Orcid: 0000-0001-5562-6033

email: dellacquaf@gmail.com; fdellacqua@unisa.it

web: https://docenti.unisa.it/005817/home; https://unisa.academia.edu/FrancescaDellAcqua;

Employment history

2020– Associate Professor, History of Medieval and Byzantine Art, Cultural Heritage Dept. (DISPAC), Università di Salerno.

2020–22 The only expert in Medieval Art, Board of Experts for Humanities, Italian REF 2015–19, Italian Ministry of University and Research (“unico componente per L-ART 01, GEV Area 10 Scienze dell’antichità, filologico-letterarie e storico-artistiche, VQR 2015–19”; equivalent to “REF” in the UK)

2017–18 On research leave from Cultural Heritage Dept. (DISPAC), Università di Salerno, Italy; affiliated scholar at School of History and Cultures, College of Arts and Law, University of Birmingham.

2015–17 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Research Fellow (n° 657240, ‘ICONOPHILIA’), Centre for Byzantine, Ottoman and Modern Greek Studies, School of History and Cultures, College of Arts and Law, University of Birmingham.

2005–20 Assistant Professor in History of Medieval Art (L-ART 01), Cultural Heritage Dept., Università di Salerno, Italy (two maternity leaves: 11/6/07–12/12/07, and 8/3/09–5/10/09)

2003–05 Research Assistant to prof. Dr. G. Wolf, Director, Kunsthistorisches Institut/Max-Planck-Institut, Florence.

2002–03 Post-Doc Stipendiatin, Bibliotheca Hertziana/Max-Planck-Institut für Kunstgeschichte, Rome.

2001–02 Professor of History of Italian Art, Rutgers-New Jersey State University in Florence.

1999–02 Museum Assistant, Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence.

Education

2020 Italian national qualification as Full Professor in History of Art (ASN 2018–20), valid until Dec 2031.

2020 Italian national qualification as Associate Professor in History of Art (ASN 2018–20), valid until Jan 2029.

2014 Italian national qualification as Associate Professor in History of Art (ASN 2012), valid until Feb 2023.

2001 Ph.D. degree in History of Medieval Art, Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa, supervisors: E. Castelnuovo, A. Peroni (Univ. Firenze), B. Brenk (Univ. Basel), 70/70 summa cum laude.

1996 BA+MA degree in Arts and Humanities, thesis in History of Medieval Art and Archaeology, Università di Firenze, supervisors: A. Peroni, G. Vannini, J. Mitchell (UEA, Norwich), 110/110 summa cum laude.

Language Proficiency: Italian: native; English, read, written, and fluently spoken; German: read and spoken; Turkish: basic; Latin and Ancient Greek: studied at High School; Medieval Latin: studied at University.

Publications (see section on this webpage, Ricerca > Pubblicazioni: https://docenti.unisa.it/005817/ricerca/pubblicazioni?anno=0)

Research funding – Major grants

2015–17 European Commission, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship n° 657240 (‘ICONOPHILIA’) – Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-20) (c. E 198.000).

2013 Direktion Wolf, Kunsthistorisches Institut/Max-Planck-Institut Florenz, funded the publication and the photographic campaign of the book I co-edited: The Salerno Ivories: Objects, Histories, Contexts, eds. A. Cutler, F. Dell’Acqua, H. L. Kessler, A. Shalem, G. Wolf, Berlin, 2016 (c. E 40.000).

2012 Kunsthistorisches Institut/Max-Planck-Institut Florenz funded the symposium ‘The Tusk and the Book’, I co-convened at the Kunsthistorisches Institut/Max-Planck-Institut, Florence (c. E 20.000).

2011 Dumbarton Oaks Center for Byzantine Studies-Harvard University funded the workshop entitled ‘Ivory Analysis Combined: Art History and Natural Science’ I conceived and co-convened with Gudrun Buehl (c. $ 15.000). The Centro di Cultura e Storia Amalfitana sponsored with travel grants two young Italian scholars to attend the workshop (E 2.000).

2009 Centro di Cultura e Storia Amalfitana funded the workshop entitled ‘Gli avori ‘amalfitani/salernitani e l'arte nel Mediterraneo medievale’, I conceived. International speakers as well as 30 young scholars recipient of travel grants attended the workshop (c. E 30.000).

2002–03 Bibliotheca Hertziana/Max-Planck Institut für Kunstgeschichte, Rome, Post-Doc Stipendium (c. E 20.000).

1999 Istituto Storico Lucchese, sponsored the symposium I conceived and organised La vetrata in Occidente dal IV all’XI secolo, Lucca (ITL 20.000.000).

1996–99 Fully funded PhD scholarship, Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa (ITL 54.000.000).

Research funding – Other grants

2025 Patrum Lumen Sustine-Stiftung (PLuS), Basel, funding for organising a conference (E 2.500).

2025 European Commission, framework Erasmus+ BIP – Blended Intensive Programmes, KA131 Mobility of higher education students and staff, fort he BIP – CAPES (Cultural Heritage and Academia: Public Engagement for Social Impact in the EU), Francesca Dell’Acqua as proponent, Università di Salerno as host, in collaboration with Sorbonne Université-Lettres, Centre André Chastel, Uniwersytet Jagielloński, Krakow, Université de Poitiers, Centre d'études supérieures de civilisation médiévale, Université de Caen-Normandie, Centre Michel de Boüard - CRAHAM (E 6.000).

2025 Centre André Chastel (CNRS–Sorbonne Université–Ministère de la Culture), Paris, one month Visiting researcher stipend (E 1.500), ‘Theme 3. Transferts, échanges, circulations dans l’espace européen et extra-européen’.

2023 ‘Touch this! accessibilità e inclusività per il patrimonio culturale della Campania’, a post-doctoral research project, Cultural Heritage Dept. and ICT, Università di Salerno (E 12.000)

2022 Dumbarton Oaks Center for Byzantine Studies-Harvard University funded the workshop entitled “The Hypapante between East and West. Liturgical themes and iconography of the Gospel event and feast of the Presentation of Christ Child in the Temple” I co-organised with M.B. Cunningham and Fr. D. Olkinuora.

2021 ICMA–International Center of Medieval Art selected my proposal for two sessions on ‘The Virgin as Auctoritas. The Authority of the Virgin Mary and Female Moral–Doctrinal Authority in the Middle Ages’ at the British Association for Art History Annual Conference, University of Birmingham, April 2021.

2019 Gerda Henkel Stiftung, ‘Travel Grant’ for the project ‘At the Crossroads of Empires: the Longobard Church of Saint’Ambrogio at Montecorvino, Italy’ (E 13.318).

2016–18 British Academy/Leverhulme Trust, ‘Small Research Grants’ for the project ‘At the Crossroads of Empires: the Longobard Church of Saint’Ambrogio at Montecorvino, Italy’ (£ 9.936).

2016–18 Bibliotheca Hertziana/Max-Planck Institut für Kunstgeschichte, Rome, Secondment within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship n° 657240 (‘ICONOPHILIA’) (E 4.000).

2015 ICMA–International Center of Medieval Art/Kress Foundation funded two sessions on Ps.-Dionysius and the arts I organised at the International Medieval Congress, Leeds, 2015 (c. $ 3.000).

2014 Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali, awarded E 5.000 for the publication of the book of F. Dell'Acqua, A. Cupolo, P. Pirrone (eds.), Gli avori medievali di Amalfi e Salerno. Vademecum, Quaderni del Centro di Cultura e Storia Amalfitana 8 - Opere e Territorio: Vademecum 1, Amalfi, Centro di Cultura e Storia Amalfitana, 2015. I prepared the application with the Centro di Cultura e Storia Amalfitana.

2014 SISMEL (Società Internazionale per lo Studio del Medioevo Latino, Florence) funded the workshop ‘The Knowledge of Ps.-Dionysius in the West until the Carolingian Translations’ I conceived and organised.

2013 Bibliotheca Hertziana/Max-Planck Institut für Kunstgeschichte, Rome, Summer stipend (E 3.200).

2013 Dumbarton Oaks Center for Byzantine Studies-Harvard University, One-month stipend ($ 3.000).

2010 J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board (FSB), Fulbright Research Scholarship ($ 6.000).

2010 ICMA–International Center of Medieval Art/Kress Research Awards, travel grant as speaker, International Congress on Medieval Studies a Kalamazoo (USA) ($ 1.000).

2002 Dumbarton Oaks Center for Byzantine Studies-Harvard University, Summer Fellowship ($ 1.200).

2001 École du Louvre of Paris and the Istituto Veneto di Scienze, Lettere ed Arti of Venice, travel grant to participate in the seminar ‘Venise et Byzance’ held by Hans Belting and others.

2000 Corning Museum of Glass (Corning, NY), Rakow Grant for Glass Studies ($ 5000).

1999–00 American Academy in Rome, Fulbright Grant for Post-Classical Studies ($ 9000).

1999 École Française de Rome, residential grant (ITL 800.000).

1998 Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa, travel grants to study in Germany (ITL 1.400.000), and at the Warburg Institute and the Institute of Archaeology in London (ITL 700.000).

1994 Free-Mover Erasmus Grant, European Commission, in order to spend a semester at the University of East Anglia, Norwich.

Research Leadership

2023 “Touch this! accessibilità e inclusività per il patrimonio culturale della Campania”, a collaborative project: Cultural Heritage Dept. and ICT at the Università di Salerno and the Comune di Montecorvino Rovella.

2022 Convenor, with Fr Damaskinos Olkinuora and prof. Mary Cunningham, workshop “The Hypapante between East and West. Liturgical themes and iconography of the Gospel event and feast of the Presentation of Christ Child in the Temple”, at the Dumbarton Oaks Center for Byzantine Studies-Harvard University, 28 October 2022.

2021 Convenor, ICMA-Sponsored Sessions at the British Association for Art History Annual Conference, University of Birmingham, April 2021: ‘The Virgin as Auctoritas. The Authority of the Virgin Mary and Female Moral–Doctrinal Authority in the Middle Ages’; the eighth-paper session will lead to the constitution of a research group under my direction.

2016– Initiator, research project ‘At the Crossroads of Empires: the Longobard Church of Saint'Ambrogio at Montecorvino Rovella, Italy’, a collaborative project: Università di Salerno, University of Birmingham, Comune di Montecorvino Rovella.

2014–19 Initiator, research group on the knowledge of Ps.-Dionysius in the West until the Carolingian translations and on the influence of Ps.-Dionysius on the developments of the Christian visual culture. I convened it at the SISMEL (Società Internazionale per lo Studio del Medioevo Latino) in Florence (2014), and at the International Medieval Congress in Leeds (2015) sponsored by the ICMA–International Center of Medieval Art and the Kress Foundation.

2008–16 Initiator, research group on the Salerno ivories (eleventh-twelfth century) in the medieval Mediterranean, involving scholars in humanities as well as in applied sciences. Three conferences were held and hosted by the Centro di Cultura e Storia Amalfitana, Amalfi (2009), the Dumbarton Oaks Center for Byzantine Studies-Harvard University (2011), the Kunsthistorisches Institut/Max-Planck-Institut Florenz (2012). The latter has been the major funding institution.

1999 Initiator and organiser, international symposium ‘La vetrata in Occidente secc. IV-XI’, ‘The stained-glass window in the Medieval West, fourth to the eleventh century’ supported by Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa, Istituto Storico Lucchese, Corpus Vitrearum Medii Aevi Italiae.

Collaborative work experiences

2017–21 Affiliated scholar, research project of prof. Claudia Rapp, ‘Moving Byzantium: Mobility, Microstructures and Personal Agency’, University of Vienna-Institut for Medieval Research, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna.

2010–11 Member, research project ‘The Material Life of Things’, Courtauld Institute, London.

2008–10 Member, project ‘The Leverhulme Network of the Composition of Byzantine Glass Mosaic Tesserae’, directed by L. James (University of Sussex).

2002–06 Team member, excavations of the Byzantine city of Amorium (Central Anatolia, Turkey), studies glass finds and window plaster frames.

1997–99 Team member, catalogue finds from the Carolingian abbey-church at Corvey on the Weser, Westfälisches Museum für Archäologie, Münster.

1997–02 Member, project ‘Corpus inscriptionum medievalium ad artefices pertinentium’, based at the Scuola Normale Superiore.

1993–96 Team member, excavations of the early medieval monastery of San Vincenzo al Volturno, Central Italy, run by the British School, the University of East Anglia at Norwich, and the University of Sheffield.

Professional standing

Awards and honours

2025 Invited speaker, Princeton University, 15th Kurt Weitzmann Memorial Lecture, Series in Late Antique, Early Christian, Byzantine, and Early Medieval Art.

2025 Elected ‘Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries–FSA’ of London, established in 1707, for ‘excelling in the knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries’.

2025 Invited researcher, Centre André Chastel (CNRS–Sorbonne Université–Ministère de la Culture), Paris.

2024 Masaryk University, Brno, Herbert L. Kessler Prize 2024.

2024–27 Elected member, Board of Directors, ICMA–International Center of Medieval Art.

2023 Accademia dei Lincei, Rome, Premio Mario Di Nola for the monograph Iconophilia.

2021–24 Associate for Italy, Board of Directors, ICMA–International Center of Medieval Art.

2020 ‘Special mention–Category Research’ at the European Heritage Awards–Europa Nostra, European Commission with the project ‘Crossroads of Empires’.

2019– Member of the Advisory Board, CEMS–Center for Early Medieval Studies, Masaryk University, Brno.

2017–21 Affiliated scholar, project Moving Byzantium: Mobility, Microstructures and Personal Agency, University of Vienna-Institute for Medieval Research, Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna.

2017–19 Affiliated scholar, Centre for Byzantine, Ottoman and Modern Greek Studies, School of History and Cultures, College of Arts and Law, Arts Building, University of Birmingham.

2016–22 Honorary Research Fellow, School of History, University of East Anglia.

2014–17 Associate for Italy, Board of Directors, ICMA–International Center of Medieval Art, NYC.

2006– Associated Scholar, Kunsthistorisches Institut/Max-Planck-Institut Florenz.

2006 Bibliotheca Hertziana/Max-Planck-Institut für Kunstgeschichte of Rome, Hanno and Ilse Hahn Prize for the ‘outstanding contribution to Art History’ – first woman and youngest scholar (E 2.500).

Lectures as invited speaker (selection)

2025 Princeton University, Department of Art and Archaeology, 15th Kurt Weitzmann Endowed Lecture.

2025 Paris, École des hautes études en sciences sociales and Musée du Louvre, invited speaker at the conference ‘Les arts de l’autel médiéval’.

2024 London, Warburg Institute, ‘Work in progress seminar series’.

2023 Florence, Kunsthistorisches Institut/Max-Planck-Institut Florenz, evening lecture.

2023 Ravenna, ‘Ravenna in Comparative Perspective’, conference organised by Judith Herrin and Maria Cristina Carile.

2023 Oxford University, Material Religion in Byzantium and Beyond, The 54th SPBS Spring Symposium of Byzantine Studies.

2022 Durham University, key-speaker at ‘Worked in Stone–Early Medieval Sculpture in its International Context’, final conference of the Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Sculpture

2022 Universität Tübingen, opening speaker, with Clemens Gantner, at the conference ‘The Road to Rome: Aspects of Religious Conflict and Mobility in the Greater Mediterranean, 700–900’

2022 Oxford University, Ioannou Centre (online), key-speaker at the international conference ‘The Virgin beyond borders’

2021 Vienna, Universität Wien, Moving Byzantium. An International Conference of the Wittgenstein-Award Project “Mobility, Microstructures and Personal Agency”, concluding remarks

2021 Aguilar de Campoo (Castile, Spain), International conference ‘Ars Mediaevalis in honour of Herbert L. Kessler’

2020 University of Vienna, Forum Moving Byzantium XX, Department of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies

2019 Round table discussion ‘Medieval Art Today?’ with Hans Belting, Michele Bacci, Tanja Michalski, Serena Romano, Hans Belting Library, Masaryk University, Brno.

2019 Lecture, Cesma Seminar Series, Centre for the Study of the Middle Ages, University of Birmingham.

2019 International Medieval Congress, Leeds, invited at sessions ‘Rome in the Early Middle Ages’.

2019 Conference Iconographiae, Università Ca’ Foscari, Venice.

2019 Forum Moving Byzantium XVIII, Department of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, University of Vienna

2018 Public lecture, Hans Belting Library, Masaryk University, Brno.

2018 Medieval History Seminars, Norwich, University of East Anglia.

2018 Conference series Histoires chrétiennes en images, INHA, Paris

2018 International conference ‘Le migrazioni nell’Alto Medioevo’, LXVI Settimana di Studio, Spoleto, Centro di Studi sull’Altomedioevo.

2018 Public lecture, Hans Belting Library, Masaryk University, Brno.

2018 Seminar, Institut für Mittelalterforschung, Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften.

2018 Monday Seminars, Department of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, University of Vienna

2018 Wednesday Seminars, School of Archaeology and Ancient History, University of Leicester

2018 Evening public lecture, Bibliotheca Hertziana/Max-Planck-Institut für Kunstgeschichte, Rome.

2017 Evening public lecture, Bibliotheca Hertziana/Max-Planck-Institut für Kunstgeschichte, Rome.

2017 Conference ‘Iconoclasm and Iconophilia’, Rjieka, Croatia.

2017 Chair, conference ‘The Normans in the South’, Oxford.

2017 Plenary lecture, Conference ‘The Miracles of the Virgin Mary: Medieval Narratives through Time and Space’, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, opening speaker.

2017 50th Annual UK Spring Symposium of Byzantine Studies, University of Birmingham.

2017 Centre for the Study of the Middle Ages Seminars, University of Birmingham.

2017 Centre for Byzantine, Ottoman, Modern Greek Studies Seminars, University of Birmingham.

2016 World Art Research Seminars, Norwich, University of East Anglia.

2016 Oxford Talks, The Cult of Saints in the First Millennium Seminars, Oxford, Oxford University.

2016 International conference ‘Voilé-Dévoilé, le rideau dans la culture chrétienne de l'Antiquité & du Moyen âge’, Univ. de Poiters – Abbey of Ligugé.

2016 Oxford Talks, Late Antique and Byzantine Archaeology and Art Seminar, Oxford, Oxford University.

2016 Medieval Work-in-Progress Seminars, London, Courtauld Institute.

2015 Annual Art History Research Seminar, Oslo University.

2015 Oxford Patristic Conference, Oxford University.

2014 Conference ‘Insediamenti montani e rurali nell'Italia longobarda, alla luce degli ultimi studi’, Monte Sant’Angelo sul Gargano.

2013 Evening public lecture, Bibliotheca Hertziana/Max-Planck-Institut für Kunstgeschichte, Rome.

2013 Bede’s World, Jarrow.

2013 International conference ‘Les cinq sens au Moyen Age (II)’, Université de Poitiers.

2013 Seminar LABOR, Florence, Kunsthistorisches Institut/Max-Planck-Institut Florenz.

2013 Shoptalk, Dumbarton Oaks Center for Byzantine Studies-Harvard University.

2012 International conference ‘Il fuoco nell’alto medioevo – LX Settimana di Studio’, Spoleto, Centro di Studi sull’Altomedioevo.

2011 Symposium ‘Riforma della Chiesa, esperienze monastiche e poteri locali. La Badia di Cava e le sue dipendenze nel Mezzogiorno dei secoli XI-XII’, Cava de’ Tirreni, Badia della SS. Trinità.

2011 22nd International Congress of Byzantine Studies, Sofia.

2011 International workshop ‘Ivory Analysis combined: Art History and Natural Science’, Dumbarton Oaks Center for Byzantine Studies-Harvard University.

2010 Conference ‘Hands on: Seven perspectives on the material transformation of art’, London, Courtauld Institute of Art.

2010 International conference ‘Convivencia in Byzantium? Cultural Exchanges in a Multi-Ethnic and Multi-Lingual Society’, Dublin, Trinity College, sponsor European Science Foundation.

2010 International conference ‘New Light on Old Glass: Byzantine Glass and Mosaics’, London, British Museum.

2010 45th International Congress on Medieval Studies a Kalamazoo (USA).

2008 Network meeting ‘Byzantine mosaic tesserae’, Ravenna, sponsored by the Leverhulme Trust.

2008 International conference ‘Topografia della memoria: in viaggio con Sindibad tra spazio e tempo nel Mediterraneo’, Venice, Casa Artom, Wake Forest University.

2008 24th International Congress of the Corpus Vitrearum Medii Aevi, Zurich.

2007 Lectures’ series, Verein für Spätantike Archäologie und Byzantinische Kunstgeschichte, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich.

2007 International symposium ‘Spaces of Early Western Monasticism’, American Academy in Rome.

2006 21st International Congress of Byzantine Studies, London.

2006 ‘Le verre dans l’architecture du Haut Moyen âge au XIIe en France’, Centre d’études médiévales, Auxerre.

2004 International conference ‘Topografia e strutture degli insediamenti monastici dall’età carolingia all’età della riforma (VIII secolo-fine dell’XI secolo)’, Museo Archeologico, Castel San Vincenzo (Isernia).

2004 International conference ‘Hierotopy, the making of sacred space’, Moscow, Tretjakov Gallery.

2002 International conference ‘Art and Form in Norman Sicily’, Rome, Bibliotheca Hertziana and British School at Rome.

2002 International workshop ‘Glass in the Byzantine World’, Dumbarton Oaks Center for Byzantine Studies-Harvard University.

2002 Annual conference, Italian committee, Association Internationale pour l'Histoire du Verre, Spoleto.

2002 International conference ‘Methodes et Approches archéologiques: L’industrie et le commerce dans l’Italie antique’, American Academy in Rome and École française de Rome.

2001 Annual conference, Italian committee, Association Internationale pour l'Histoire du Verre, Naples.

2000 Annual conference, Associazione Italiana per lo Studio e la Conservazione del Mosaico, Pompei.

1999 International conference ‘L’artista Medievale’, Modena.

1999 Annual conference, Italian committee of the Association Internationale pour l'Histoire du Verre, Massa Martana (Perugia).

1998 19th International Congress, Corpus Vitrearum Medii Aevi, Krakow, Poland.

1996 Annual conference, Italian committee, Association Internationale pour l'Histoire du Verre, Milan.

1995 18th International Congress, Corpus Vitrearum Medii Aevi, Siena.

Selecting Committees

2025 Evaluator, HORIZON MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025 call.

2025 Evaluator, Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique-FNRS, Belgium, CREDITS & PROJECTS call 2025.

2025 Evaluator, Czech Science Foundation (GACR), Department of social sciences and humanities.

2024 Evaluator, Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), Starting Grants.

2023 Evaluator, Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR), proposals for scheme Scientific Projects of National Importance (PRIN 2022).

2022 Evaluator, Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR), Call FARE 2020 (Framework per l’Attrazione e il Rafforzamento delle Eccellenze per la ricerca in Italia), to attract ERC grantees to Italy.

2021 Evaluator, Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR), proposals for scheme Scientific Projects of National Importance (PRIN 2020).

2020–22 The only expert for Medieval Art (L-ART 01), Board of Experts for Humanities, Italian REF 2015–19, Italian Ministry of University and Research (“unico componente per L-ART 01, GEV Area 10 Scienze dell'antichità, filologico-letterarie e storico-artistiche, VQR 2015–19”).

2017– Evaluator, Italian Ministry of University and Research, call REPRISE.

2017–18 External consultant, ERC Consolidator Grant, Masaryk University, Brno.

2016 Evaluator, Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR), proposals for scheme Scientific Projects of National Importance (PRIN 2016).

2016 Evaluator, ERC, panel Culture and Cultural Production (SH5), Starting Grants 2016.

2015 Member, selecting committee, University of Padua, ‘PISCOPIA GRANTS’, a Marie Skłodowska-Curie COFUND Programme.

Editorial boards/Peer-reviewing

2024– Peer-reviewer, journal Early Medieval Europe, international peer-reviewed journal (“Rivista Fascia A”, Italian Agency of the Ministry of Education and Scientific Research).

2024– Member, scientific board, Codex Aqvilarensis. Revista de arte medieval, international peer-reviewed journal (“Rivista Fascia A”, Italian Agency of the Ministry of Education and Scientific Research).

2023– Peer-reviewer, journal Religions.

2021– Member, scientific board, Corpus della pittura monumentale bizantina in Italia within the Corpus of Byzantine Monumental Paintings under the patronage of UNESCO.

2020–22 The only expert in Medieval Art, Board of Experts for Humanities, Italian REF 2015–19, Italian Ministry of University and Research (“unico componente per L-ART 01, GEV Area 10 Scienze dell’antichità, filologico-letterarie e storico-artistiche, VQR 2015–19”; equivalent to “REF” in the UK)

2019– Member, editorial board, series Archaeology of the Mediterranean World, Brepols.

2016 Peer-reviewer, evaluation of the Academic Research Quality (VQR 2011–14; equivalent to REF), Italian Ministry of University and Research.

2015– Founder and editor of the book series Opere e Territorio: Vademecum, published in hard and digital copy by the Centro di Cultura e Storia Amalfitana, Amalfi; members of the scientific committee: Beat Brenk, Jill Caskey, Ivan Foletti, Tanja Michalsky, Antonio Milone, Nino Zchomelidse.

2014– Peer-reviewer, journal Dumbarton Oaks Papers.

2014– Peer-reviewer, journal Gesta.

2014– Peer-reviewer, journal Convivium-Seminarium Kondakovianum Series Nova.

2012–13 Peer-reviewer, evaluation of the academic research quality (VQR 2004–10; equivalent to REF), Italian Ministry of University and Research.

Societal and Economic Impact

2018 With the support of the project “At the Crossroads of Empires”, the municipality of Montecorvino Rovella is awarded c. E 70.000 by the Regione Campania (decree no. 277, 10/10/2018, POC 2014-2020) to finance “Longobard Experience Reloaded”, a programme of public engagement with research events.

2017 With the endorsement of the project “At the Crossroads of Empires”, the municipality of Montecorvino Rovella is included in the cultural route “Longobard Ways across Europe”.

2017 The project “At the Crossroads of Empires” endorses the application of the cultural route “Longobard Ways across Europe” to be accredited among the “Cultural Routes of the Council of Europe programme.

Supervision of graduate students

2024–27 Supervisor, PhD student Giuditta Cioffi, Università di Salerno, in co-tutelle with Université de Caen.

2023 Supervisor, post-doc researcher Dr Flavia Vanni, project: “Touch this! accessibilità e inclusività per il patrimonio culturale della Campania”, Cultural Heritage Dept. and ICT, Università di Salerno.

2022–2023 Doctoral dissertation reader and co-tutor, PhD student Jeffrey Berland, University of Notre Dame Indiana and École Pratique des Hautes Études–Université Paris Sciences & Lettres.

2021–2025 Doctoral dissertation co-adviser, PhD student Maria Constantina Terss, Stanford University.

2021–22 Supervisor, PhD student Nieve Anne Cassidy, Università di Salerno.

2019–21 Supervisor, PhD student Marina D’Anzilio, Università di Salerno.

2016–21 Co-supervisor, PhD student Veronika Pichaničová, Masaryk University, Brno.

2015–17 Mentor, PhD, MA, and BA students, School of History, University of Birmingham, informally and at events organised by the dept. of History.

2015–16 Mentor, Flavia Vanni for her MRes thesis in Byzantine Studies, University of Birmingham.

2013–15 Mentor, PhD student Annalisa Vitolo, as member of the board of professors, PhD in Archaeology and Art History, Università di Salerno (in Italy Assistant professors cannot usually be PhD tutors).

2007–12 Mentor, PhD students Ernesto Sergio Mainoldi, Angelo Tavolaro, Diego Ianiro, as member of the board of professors, PhD in History of Philosophy, Università di Salerno.

2008– Supervisor, 40+ MA theses in Art History, Università di Salerno.

2005–07 Supervisor, 10 theses of graduate students in Archaeology, Scuola di Specializzazione in Archeologia Classica, Medievale e Orientale, Università di Salerno.

2004–05 Co-supervisor, 3 MA theses in Archaeology, the Università Suor Orsola Benincasa, Naples.

2004– Supervisor, 60+ BA theses in Medieval Art History.

Modules and lectures

2025–26 Università di Salerno, modules taught: BA in Cultural Heritage: Introductory course to the study of Cultural Heritage and Medieval Art, 1st year; Medieval and Byzantine Art (in English), 2nd year; MA in Art History: Medieval Art History, 1st year; Byzantium: Material and Visual Culture (in English), 1st year; PhD school in Methods of Archaeological and Art-Historical Research: Research funding and dissemination workshop, 2nd year; History of Art in Europe and the Mediterranean, 2nd year.

2024–25 Università di Salerno, modules taught: BA in Cultural Heritage: Introductory course to the study of Cultural Heritage and Medieval Art, 1st year; Medieval and Byzantine Art (in English), 2nd year; MA in Art History: Medieval Art History, 1st year; Byzantium: Material and Visual Culture (in English), 1st year; PhD school in Methods of Archaeological and Art-Historical Research: Research funding workshop, 2nd year.

2023–24 Università di Salerno, modules taught: BA in Cultural Heritage: Introductory course to the study of Cultural Heritage and Medieval Art, 1st year; Medieval and Byzantine Art (in English), 2nd year; MA in Art History: Medieval Art History, 1st year; PhD school in Methods of Archaeological and Art-Historical Research: Research funding and dissemination workshop, 2nd year; History of Art in Europe and the Mediterranean, 2nd year.

2022–23 Università di Salerno, modules taught: BA in Cultural Heritage: Introductory course to the study of Cultural Heritage and Medieval Art, 1st year; Medieval and Byzantine Art (in English), 2nd year; MA in Art History: Medieval Art History, 1st year; MA in Art History / MA in Archival Studies: History of the Book Illustration, 2nd year; PhD school in Methods of Archaeological and Art-Historical Research: Research funding and dissemination workshop, 2nd year.

2021–22 Università di Salerno, modules taught: BA in Cultural Heritage: Introductory course to the study of Cultural Heritage and Medieval Art, 1st year; MA in Art History: Medieval Art History, 1st year; MA in Art History / MA in Archival Studies: History of the Book Illustration, 2nd year; PhD school in Methods of Archaeological and Art-Historical Research: Research funding and dissemination workshop, 2nd year; History of Art in Europe and the Mediterranean, 2nd year.

2020–21 Seminar for MA and PhD students, Stanford University, Art History Department within the course ‘Theories of the Image: Byzantium, Islam and the Latin West’ led by prof. Bissera Pentcheva.

2020–21 Università di Salerno, modules taught (online, on Teams): BA in Cultural Heritage: Introductory course to the study of Cultural Heritage and Medieval Art, 1st year; MA in Art History: Medieval Art History, 1st year; MA in Art History / MA in Archival Studies: History of Manuscript Illumination, 2nd year; MA in Art History: Laboratory of Digital Humanities, critical reading, strategies for essay writing, 2nd year; PhD school in Methods of Archaeological and Art-Historical Research: lectures and seminars on methodological questions in historical research.

2019–20 Università di Salerno, modules taught: MA in Art History: Medieval Art History, 1st year (online on Teams); MA in Art History / MA in Archival Studies: History of Manuscript Illumination, 2nd year; MA in Art History: Laboratory of Digital Humanities, critical reading, strategies for essay writing, 2nd year; School of Post-Graduate Studies in Classical, Oriental, and Medieval Archaeology: Medieval Material Culture; PhD school in Methods of Archaeological and Art-Historical Research: lectures and seminars on methodological questions in historical research.

2018–19 Università di Salerno, modules taught: BA in Philosophy: Medieval Art History, 2nd year; BA in Cultural Heritage: Art Historical Practice and Cultural Heritage; School of Post-Graduate Studies in Classical, Oriental, and Medieval Archaeology: Medieval Material Culture; Masaryk University, Brno, ‘block module’ entitled ‘An index of the Norman 'melting pot'? The Salerno Ivories in context’.

2016–17 University of Birmingham, School of History and Cultures: team-taught seminars, MA/MRes in Medieval Studies.

2015–16 University of Birmingham, School of History and Cultures: Y1 team-taught module Byzantium and the Transformation of the Roman World c. 330–c. 850, BA in History.

2012–13 Paris IV-Sorbonne, lectures on the Carolingian Westwerk of Corvey on the Weser (Germany), and on the myth of Alexander the Great in the Macedonian Renaissance.

2012–14 Università di Salerno, modules taught: History of Medieval Art, BA in Cultural Heritage; lectures for PhD students in History of Philosophy.

2011–12 Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Faculty of Architecture, lectures on the Serpent Column in the Hippodrome of Constantinople and on the myth of Alexander the Great in tenth c. Byzantium.

2010–11 Paris IV-Sorbonne, lectures on early western monastic workshops, and on Byzantine iconoclasm.

2009–12 Università di Salerno, modules taught: History of artistic techniques and Internet databases for Art History, MA in Art History; lectures for PhD students in History of Philosophy.

2007–08 Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Faculty of Architecture, lectures on Byzantine architecture.

2006–08 Università di Salerno, School of Post-Graduate Studies (Scuola di Specializzazione) in Classical, Oriental, and Medieval Archaeology, module in history of medieval architecture.

2006–07 Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Faculty of Architecture, lectures on the architecture of Norman Sicily.

2006–07 Università di Salerno and Università di Genova, MA Degree in Knowledge and Promotion of Local Cultural Heritage.

2004–07 Istituto Centrale di Restauro, Rome, module on early stained-glass (archaeological evidence, architectural setting, technical features, textual references).

2004–06 Università della Svizzera Italiana, Mendrisio, Faculty of Architecture, lectures on architectural history.

2004–15 Università di Salerno, modules taught: BA in Cultural Heritage: History of Medieval Art, 1st year; MA in History of Art: History of Artistic Techniques; PhD in Philosophy and PhD in Methods of Archaeological and Art-Historical Research: lectures and seminars on methodological questions in historical research.

2002–03 Università Suor Orsola Benincasa, Naples, Conservation of Cultural Heritage Dept., MA module on architectural decoration in late Antiquity and the Middle Ages; Università di Roma 2, Faculty of Civil Engineering, lectures on early Christian and medieval architecture.

2000–02 Rutgers-New Jersey State University in Florence, module taught: History of Italian Art.

1997–98 Università di Firenze, Facoltà di Lettere, lectures on early monastic rules and work.

Academic service

University of Birmingham

2016–17 internal examiner, MRes degree in Byzantine Studies.

2015–17 faculty member, CAHA (Classics, Ancient History and Archaeology), School of History and Cultures, College of Arts and Law.

Università di Salerno

2022– Delegate to Internationalisation, Cultural Heritage Dept.

2021– Academic Tutor for internship c/o “Diateca Brenk”, the slide collection donated by prof. Beat Brenk (Basel)

2013–15 Delegate to Internationalisation, Cultural Heritage Dept.

2012–15 Member of the Faculty Committee for Quality (AVA-SUA), Cultural Heritage Dept.

2012– Member, board of professors, PhD in Methods of Archaeological and Art-Historical Research.

2004–05, 2007–12 Member, board of professors, PhD in History of late-antique, medieval, and humanistic philosophy.

2004– Faculty member, Cultural Heritage Dept., with teaching, research, and administrative duties.

Other Administrative Activities

2025–27 Chair, ICMA–International Center of Medieval Art, International Engagement Committee.

2024–27 Member, Board of Directors, ICMA–International Center of Medieval Art.

2023–25 Chair, by invitation, ICMA–International Center of Medieval Art, ‘New Initiatives Working Group’.

2021–24 Member, by invitation, ICMA–International Center of Medieval Art, Programs & Lectures Committee.

2021–24 Associate for Italy, Board of Directors, ICMA–International Center of Medieval Art.

2020–25 Member, by invitation, ICMA–International Center of Medieval Art, ‘New Initiatives Working Group’.

2019– Member, by invitation, Advisory Board, Centre for Early Medieval Studies, Masaryk University, Brno.

2015–23 Member, advisory board of the Museo Diocesano di Salerno.

2014–17 Associate for Italy, Board of Directors, ICMA–International Center of Medieval Art, NYC.

2008– Member, scientific committee, Centro di Cultura e Storia Amalfitana, Amalfi.

2005–07 Member, board of professors, PhD in Medieval Archaeology, Università de l’Aquila.

Public engagement activities

2025 Proponent and Convenor, first “Associates Lecture”, ICMA–International Center of Medieval Art, NYC, at Amalfi, Centro di Cultura e Storia Amalfitana, held by prof. Gerardo Boto Varela, Universitat de Girona, Royal cemeteries in Medieval Iberia. Geopolitical system and sites of dynastic memory.

2023 “Oltre la norma,” inclusivity and accessibility to cultural heritage for visually impaired or blind people, hands-on experience for general public and presentation of three-D modelling, Montecorvino Rovella, Dec. 2023.

2022 public engagement with research: Montecorvino Rovella, Conservatorio di Santa Sofia, public event: ‘Analisi archeometriche: la scienza affianca l’archeologia’, with F. Dell’Acqua, C.M. Lambert, C. Lubritto, F. Alberghina, F., V. Gheroldi, May 2022.

2020 public engagement with research: “Conversazioni intorno al Sant’Ambrogio di Montecorvino Rovella”, online events, Dec. 2020.

2020 public engagement with research: lecture on the Milanese saints in the paitings of Sant’Ambrogio di Montecorvino Rovella at the celebrations “S. Cipriano e il suo popolo: Cipriano e Ambrogio, due santi a confronto”, Parrocchia di S. Cipriano e Eustachio, S. Cipriano Picentino (SA).

2019 public update on the project ‘At the Crossroads of Empires: the Longobard Church of Sant’Ambrogio at Montecorvino, Italy’, Montecorvino Rovella, Conservatorio di Santa Sofia, within the event “Longobard Experience Reloaded”, funded by the Regione Campania.

2019 open Day on the site of Saint'Ambrogio at Montecorvino Rovella within the “Giornata Nazionale del Paesaggio”, in a joint programme with the Museo Archeologico di Pontecagnano.

2019 public engagement with research: lecture on Sant’Ambrogio di Montecorvino Rovella at the ANISA (Associazione Nazionale Insegnanti di Storia dell’Arte) meeting in held in the church of Santa Maria de Lama, Salerno.

2018 public presentation of the project ‘At the Crossroads of Empires: the Longobard Church of Sant’Ambrogio at Montecorvino, Italy’, Montecorvino Rovella, Chiostro di S. Maria della Pace.

2018 Open Day on the site of Saint'Ambrogio at Montecorvino Rovella to present the project ‘At the crossroads of empires’.

2017 public presentation of the project ‘At the Crossroads of Empires: the Longobard Church of Sant’Ambrogio at Montecorvino, Italy’, Montecorvino Rovella.

2017 organises and leads a field trip to the History of Birmingham Gallery, Birmingham Museum, for Y6 children of Mere Green Primary School, Sutton Coldfield (West Midlands), to raise awareness about local history of crafts, innovation, and early industry.

2017 organises and leads a field trip to the Faith in Birmingham Gallery, Birmingham Museum, for Y3 children of Mere Green Primary School, Sutton Coldfield (West Midlands), to raise awareness about religious diversity and stimulate reflection on values such as respect, friendship, kindness, loyalty.

2017 champions the study of and careers in the humanities on the official day of ‘Women in Science’, 11 Feb: https://womeninscience2017.wordpress.com/2017/02/12/francesca-dellacqua/

2016 champions the study of and careers in the humanities during the Careers and Aspiration Afternoon for Y5 and Y6 children, Mere Green Primary School, Sutton Coldfield (West Midlands).

2015 for the Gruppo culturale Ebolus dulce solum, Eboli (Salerno), delivers a public lecture on the social status and culture of medieval architects analysing a local inscription of the Norman period.

2012 for the Gruppo Archeologico Salernitano, Salerno, a public lecture on the Salerno ivories and the sensorial appreciation of the divine in the Middle Ages.

2011 for the ArcheoClub Montecorvino Rovella delivers a public lecture on early medieval cult of Mary within the annual Longobard festival held at the local early medieval church of Sant’Ambrogio.

2011 for the Associazione Amici Altopiani Maggiori d’Abruzzo, Pescocostanzo (Aquila), delivers a public lecture on the Assumption of Mary.

2010 for the Associazione Amici Altopiani Maggiori d’Abruzzo, Pescocostanzo (Aquila), delivers a public lecture on the Holy Face of Christ between Edessa, Constantinople, Paris, Rome, Manoppello.

2009 for the ArcheoClub Montecorvino Rovella delivers a public lecture on the early medieval cult of saints within the annual Longobard festival held at the local early medieval church of Sant’Ambrogio.

2007–08 conceives and organises the third cycle of free public lectures ‘Medioevo mediterraneo, Medioevo europeo’, in charge of the Dipartimento di Latinità e Medioevo, Università di Salerno, in collaboration with the Gruppo Archeologico Salernitano. Attended by general public and university students. Speakers: Adriano Peroni (Università di Firenze), Fabio Barry (University of St. Andrews), Sible De Blaauw (Radboud University Nijmegen), Aygül Agir (Istanbul Technical University).

2006–07 conceives and organises the second cycle of free public lectures ‘Medioevo mediterraneo, Medioevo europeo’, in charge of the Dipartimento di Latinità e Medioevo, Università di Salerno, in collaboration with the Gruppo Archeologico Salernitano, Salerno. Attended by general public and university students. Speakers: Beat Brenk (Universität Basel/Università ‘La Sapienza’ Roma), Giovanni Vitolo (Università di Napoli ‘Federico II’), Avinoam Shalem (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich), Massimo Bernabò (Università di Pavia), Mariella Pasca (Soprintendenza ai BAAAS Salerno).

2005–06 conceives and organises the first cycle of free public lectures ‘Medioevo mediterraneo, Medioevo europeo’, in charge of the Dipartimento di Latinità e Medioevo, Università di Salerno, in collaboration with the Gruppo Archeologico Salernitano, Salerno. Attended by general public and university students. Speakers: Gerhard Wolf (Kunsthistorisches Institut/Max-Planck-Institut Florenze), Maria Giulia Aurigemma (Università di Parma), Rebecca Mueller (Goethe Universität, Frankfurt), Chiara Piccinini (Université Bordeaux Montaigne), Fabrizio Crivello (Università di Torino), Eve Borsook (Villa I Tatti-Harvard University, Florence).

2002 for the Gruppo Archeologico Salernitano, Salerno, delivers a public lecture on the social status of medieval sculptors through the analysis of their signatures and inscriptions.