ABSTRACT

The focus of the project Tracce in luce is the external decoration of the fortress of Vignola (MO). The fragile fragments of the architectonic and heraldic colourful decorations are the latest evidence of a rich ensemble of frescos -now almost completely lost -that adorned the upper parts of the fortress during the first decades of the fifteenth century AD. A multidisciplinary team has worked for one year to achieve the exact and complete identification of the ancient drawings and colours of the decorative frescoes. The interaction between traditional and historical research and new survey techniques with light-based technologies, such as 3D laser scanning relief and high resolution photographic campaign of the fragments by UAV drone with GPS, has allowed a rigorous philological research to recompose the ancient decorative motifs. Furthermore, a video-mapping lighting projection of the recomposed decorations recreated the splendid original aspect of the south-west façade of the castle. The adoption of projected light for conservation projects enlarges the legibility and the interpretation of historical and artistic objects and offers new non-invasive methods in the restoration of artefacts, with the option to update the data as the level of knowledge increases. We believe that the combination of traditional and innovative approaches ensures consistency of method, historical awareness and new ways of interpreting research results.

Parole chiave/Key-words: Light technologies, video-mapping projection, 3D laser scanner, Drone/UAV, virtual reconstruction, research project, mural painting.