Arius Technology, a global leader in ultra-high-resolution 3D scanning of fine art, has announced a partnership with the Comune di Sansepolcro, Italy, to digitize the Renaissance fresco The Resurrection by Piero della Francesca. This project, using Arius's proprietary color-accurate scanning technology, aims to create detailed digital records for conservation, study, and restoration purposes, highlighting the growing role of digitization in preserving cultural heritage.
The fresco, housed in the Museo Civico 'Piero della Francesca,' is recognized as one of the greatest works of Western art. Arius's technology will capture surface detail down to 10 microns, including texture and color, to produce a data-rich file known as ADMF. This digital record can be used for conservation analysis, museum-grade reproductions, and even blockchain storage, addressing the vulnerability of frescoes to environmental and structural degradation.
"Piero della Francesca's The Resurrection is not only a cultural treasure for Italy, but for the entire world," said Paul Lindahl, CEO of Arius Technology. "Our technology captures the full dimensionality and detail of the original work, transporting it into the digital world to ensure its legacy lives on and is accessible, secure, and ready for the next era of cultural engagement."
The project is part of a long-term partnership with the municipality of Sansepolcro, the hometown of Piero della Francesca. Art historian Luca Baroni noted, "The involvement of the Municipality of Sansepolcro—first in Italy to adopt this technology—in this globally pioneering project highlights the strength of local Italian institutions, custodians of extraordinary treasures from the past that must not only be preserved, but also nurtured and allowed to grow for the future."
Mayor Fabrizio Innocenti expressed pride in the collaboration: "We are particularly proud to have embarked on a journey with Arius that allows us to enhance our very important artistic and cultural heritage through the use of cutting-edge and futuristic technology. In this sense, we feel we are honouring the legacy of Piero, defined as 'the most modern among the ancients.'"
Arius Technology, headquartered in Vancouver with offices in London and New York, originally developed its scanning technology to forensically scan the Mona Lisa. The company now works with leading museums and collectors to digitally safeguard artworks and make them accessible through platforms like Arius Technology. The Museo Civico, founded in 1975, holds the world's most significant collection of works by Piero della Francesca, including three frescoes and a polyptych of twenty-one panels. The Resurrection is so integral to the town's identity that it appears on its official coat of arms.
This digitization initiative represents a broader effort to bridge art history, technology, and public engagement, ensuring that cultural treasures are preserved for future generations while remaining accessible to a global audience.
