Marinella Greco

Three-dimensional modelling of statues: the Minerva of Arezzo

Abstract The Minerva of Arezzo is an ancient bronze statue located at the Museo Archeologico in Florence and currently under repair at the Restoration Centre of the Soprintendenza Archeologica of the Tuscany Region. We assembled a complete three-dimensional (3D) digital model of the Minerva before the restoration started. More 3D models will be produced to keep track of the variations that occurred during the restoration process, up to the final acquisition of the form of the restored artwork. The modelling of the Minerva will be the focal point of an ambitious “Minerva Project” that involves the integration of data from other sources in a 3D digital model of the object. Besides this, the project is aimed at showing how 3D techniques can be used to design useful and easily manageable new tools for the diagnostics of archaeological objects. 3D measurements have been realized by means of a high-resolution laser scanner developed at National Institute for Applied Optics (INOA). The instrument is composed of commercial low-cost components in order to be competitive with the very expensive commercial devices. Besides this, our scanner is supported by an efficient and flexible software developed by Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR) that supports all the post-processing phases of a 3D scanning session (range data alignment, merge and simplification).

New high-resolution IR-color reflectography scanner for painting diagnosis

Infrared reflectography is a prominent optical technique for non-destructive diagnostics of paintings, which allows the visualisation of details hidden by the paint layers, because of their transparency characteristics to IR radiation. High-resolution reflectography was introduced around the end of the 80s by the Istituto Nazionale di Ottica Applicata, where a prototype of an innovative scanner device was developed. This technique was recently improved with the introduction of a new optical head, able to acquire simultaneously the reflectogram and the colour image, perfectly superimposing. The technical characteristics of the IR-colour scanner guarantee: a high spatial resolution (16 points/mm2), a high tonal dynamics (thousands of grey levels), a uniform lighting of the scanned area and the punctual superimposition of the colour and IR images. Moreover we can print distortion-free reflectograms, false-colour and colour images of paintings on a 1:1 scale. The quality of the acquired reflectogram is presently higher than that obtainable with any traditional detection system, like CCD or Vidicon cameras. The point-by-point comparison between the reflectogram and the colour image of the painting, along with digital processing of the recorded images, open new possibilities for the analysis of the reflectogram. Some examples of application to the study of ancient paintings are shown.

High-resolution 3D digital models of artworks

The measurement of the shape of an artwork usually requires a high-resolution instrumentation, in order to catch small details such as chisel marks, sculptural relieves, surface cracks, etc. 3D scanning techniques, together with new modeling software tools, allow a high fidelity reproduction of an artwork: these can be applied either to support and document its repair or for the realization of 3D archives and virtual museums. Starting from a high-resolution digital model of an object, a further step could be its reproduction by means of fast-prototyping techniques like stereo-lithography or electro-erosion. This work is aimed at showing the performance of a high-resolution laser scanner devoted to Cultural Heritage applications. The device is portable and very versatile, in order to allow in situ applications, accurate and reliable, so to capture intricate details. This laser profilometer has been used in a few surveys, the most significant of which are the monitoring the various phases of the restoration process of an ellenistic bronze (the Minerva of Arezzo, Florence), the cataloguing of some archaeological findings (from the Grotta della Poesia, Lecce) and the documenting of wooden panels surface conditions (the “Madonna del Cardellino” by Raffaello and “La Tebaide” by Beato Angelico).

High-precision surface analysis of the roughness of Michelangelo's David

The knowledge of the shape of an artwork is an important element for its study and conservation. When dealing with a statue, roughness measurement is a very useful contribution to document its surface conditions, to assess either changes due to restoration intervention or surface decays due to wearing agents, and to monitor its time-evolution in terms of shape variations. In this work we present the preliminary results of the statistical analysis carried out on acquired data relative to six areas of the Michelangelo’s David marble statue, representative of differently degraded surfaces. Determination of the roughness and its relative characteristic wavelength is shown.

Multi-spectral IR reflectography

A variety of scientific investigation methods applied to paintings are, by now, an integral part of the repair process, both to plan the restoration intervention and to monitor its various phases. Optical techniques are widely diffused and extremely well received in the field of painting diagnostics because of their effectiveness and safety. Among them infrared reflectography is traditionally employed in non-destructive diagnostics of ancient paintings to reveal features underlying the pictorial layer thanks to transparency characteristics to NIR radiation of the materials composing the paints. High-resolution reflectography was introduced in the 90s at the Istituto Nazionale di Ottica Applicata, where a prototype of an innovative scanner was developed, working in the 900-1700 nm spectral range. This technique was recently improved with the introduction of an optical head, able to acquire simultaneously the reflectogram and the color image, perfectly superimposing. In this work we present a scanning device for multi-spectral IR reflectography, based on contact-less and single-point measurement of the reflectance of painted surfaces. The back-scattered radiation is focused on square-shaped fiber bundle that carries the light to an array of 14 photodiodes equipped with pass-band filters so to cover the NIR spectral range from 800 to 2500 nm

Integrating 2D and 3D data for diagnostics of panel paintings

Imaging techniques are widely used for the diagnostics of paintings. The results, collected by applying various imaging techniques are generally compared by the art historian who studies the object. These 2D data can be effectively integrated to form a multi-dimensional dataset, and added to a 3D digital model of the painting, thus creating a complete package of information about the opera. In this work we present some examples of applications of data integration with measurements performed on some important panel paintings. The imaging analysis was carried out by applying techniques such as infrared reflectography, colour and false colour imaging and ultraviolet fluorescence. The IR reflectogram, the false colour and the colour image are simultaneously acquired with a scanning device characterized by a high resolution (16 dots/mm2), a high tonal dynamic and point-to-point correspondence between these three images. A multi-spectral device, based on a high-resolution CCD camera, is used for UV fluorescence. The 3D relief was obtained by means of scanning micro-profilometry with a quota resolution of about 1 micron. The integration of the 3D model with the results given by several imaging techniques greatly increases the information and it eases the analysis of the painting under investigation.

A 3D scanning device for architectural survey based on time-of-flight technology

This work is intended to show the results of a few architectural and archaeological surveys realized by means of a 3D scanning device, based on TOF (Time-Of-Flight) technology. The instrument was set up by the Art Diagnostic Group of the National Institute for Applied Optics (INOA) and it is composed by a high precision scanning system equipped with a commercial low-cost distance-meter. This device was projected in order to provide the following characteristics: reliability, good accuracy and compatibility with other systems and it is devoted to applications in Cultural Heritage field.

Time-of-flight laser scanner for architectural and archaeological applications

The realization of an accurate 3D model of a building, a piece of architecture or a terrain has been a prerogative of the photogrammetric systems for a long time. However, recent developments in opto-electronic technology and 3D analysis software made the production of 3D models by laser scanning a practical proposition. The main advantages of laser scanners are accuracy and speed, allowing, thus, the collecting of data on a dense sampling of the object. For many architectural and industrial applications it is important to integrate the data acquired with different instruments, but a problem met with many commercial systems is the lack of compatibility with classic survey methodologies. Moreover, superimposition of results from different techniques is possible only if the output is metrically correct. This work is aimed at showing the results of some architectural and archaeological surveys realized by means of a 3D scanning device, based on the Time-Of-Flight (TOF) technology. The instrument, devoted to architectural applications in the Cultural Heritage field, was set up in order to provide the characteristics of reliability and compatibility to other systems. Such a device is composed by a high precision scanning system equipped with a commercial low-cost distance-meter.

Portable Raman versus portable mid-FTIR reflectance instruments to monitor synthetic treatments used for the conservation of monument surfaces

This study aims to evaluate the relevance of portable Raman and portable mid-Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) reflectance instruments in monitoring the synthetic treatments applied on plaster substrates, a crucial issue in a conservation work. Some polymeric consolidants and protectives have a relatively short life owing to their degradation, and after some years the surface should be retreated. It follows that any information about the presence and composition of the products applied, their chemical transformations and their distribution on the surfaces is essential. For these purposes, conservation scientists should seek and test new in situ methods, and this is of utmost importance especially in the case of buildings, considering their large dimensions and consequent extensive mapping. The effectiveness of portable Raman and portable mid-FTIR reflectance instruments has been compared by analysing a set of laboratory specimens prepared and treated with variable amounts of products belonging to three classes of polymers; the spectroscopic investigation highlighted, for the first time, the limits and the advantages of portable Raman and portable mid-FTIR reflectance instruments in the detection of small amounts of products commonly employed for the conservation of plasters.

High-resolution 3D survey of artworks

The aim of this work is to show how 3D techniques can be used to integrate standard diagnostic ones, adding useful and powerful tools for the restorers. A 3D model allows both to monitor restoration processes and to keep trace of any significant modification of an artwork. We present 3D measurements carried out on different kind of samples: a statue, a painting, a xylography board and two ancient coins. These surveys were carried out by means of a high-resolution laser micro-profilometer developed by the Art Diagnostic Group of the National Institute of Applied Optics. It is composed of a commercial distance meter mounted on a scanning device and allows dense data sampling with high quota resolution and accuracy.