Electronic restoration of great works of art: color analysis and reconstruction of Piero della Francesca's frescoes

Lillian F. Schwartz

doi:10.1117/12.175314

9 May 1994 Electronic restoration of great works of art: color analysis and reconstruction of Piero della Francesca's frescoes

Lillian F. Schwartz

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 2171, Color Hard Copy and Graphic Arts III; (1994) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.175314
Event: IS&T/SPIE 1994 International Symposium on Electronic Imaging: Science and Technology, 1994, San Jose, CA, United States

Abstract

A computer was used to examine the surface colors and compositions of Piero della Francesca's frescoes The Resurrection of Christ, St. Julien, and a section from the panel La morte di Adamo from the Leggenda della Vera Croce to electronically analyze Piero's palettes, repair cracks in his works, replace damaged areas, and identify sections in which earlier restorers changed the original work. Electronic restoration now serves as a road map to art restorers, as well as provides the public with a closer representation of works as the artist originally intended. The analysis also reveals surprising new insights into Piero della Francesca's The Resurrection of Christ, including the thorn-based structure of a symbolic tree, and resolves a historical controversy.

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Lillian F. Schwartz "Electronic restoration of great works of art: color analysis and reconstruction of Piero della Francesca's frescoes", Proc. SPIE 2171, Color Hard Copy and Graphic Arts III, (9 May 1994); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.175314

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