Robert Szemzö
(VŠVU/ AFAD, Bratislava, Slovakia)
Keywords: 3D, Tool analysis, Polychome sculptures, CT
Abstract:
Historical polychrome woodcarvings are one of the most treasured parts of European cultural patrimony. Tradition of their production, which remained throughout centuries, left us heritage of cultural objects of high artistic level proving exceptional ambitions and craftsmanship of their creators. Despite of this a wide range of undocumented facts related to their origin, production, creators identity and their past migration. Physical comparison of isolated pieces is often complicated because many liturgical objects were during recent centuries placed on distant locations such as museum exhibitions or collections and so whole groups of representative objects were scattered. Digital three dimensional representation of Cultural Heritage objects is, more than any other medium, able to provide the wide range of required information about ontology of examined objects in the way that was not possible before. This paper is bringing the results of research related to ongoing conservation of late medieval sculpture connected to heterogeneous group of Artworks inherited as mobiliari in Basilique Minor of Kežmarok (Eastern Slovakia ). Simple solutions capable to bring beneficial contribution into traditional forms of non destructive inspection and analysis of historical object were employed to fit this needs. Through digital conversion of selected details and object parts using Digital photogrammetry, Computer tomography, employing multispectral imaging or macrophotography were captured traces left by specific tools referring to evidence of original sculptors methodology. Obtained data were verified using historical depictions or archaeological documentations. Three dimensional visualizations were made for compilation of obtained results, allowing us to execute reverse hypothetical reconstruction of identified approaches and tools helping us to understand craftsmanship and visual culture which stood behind creation of these art pieces. This may follow to receive wider opportunities for identification of current creators, or entire workshops and distinctions between compatible pieces along with traditional methods of art history. Despite recent significant rise of digital technologies, it is not easy to weight their contribution in terms of analysis or synthetic data income -factualization. Enhancing of analytical potential of three dimensional survey techniques remains an important step to their utilization for inspection practice contributing to work of conservation specialists and specialists employed in studies of tangible Cultural heritage objects.