Supporting the Restoration of the Minerva of Arezzo

The aim of this work has been to show how 3D scanning techniques can provide new, useful and powerful tools to the restorers. In fact, 3D models are able both to monitor the restoration process: e.g. variations of the shape of a statue, due for example to the removal of plaster and wooden parts, and to keep trace of the modifications that take place during the conservation operations: e.g. the polishing of a corroded bronze surface. The focus of this project was to acquire 3D data with different resolutions, with specially designed acquisition means, and to integrate and merge them with specially designed software tools. The first set of 3D data was obtained with a laser scanner, the other with a micro- profilometer. The whole statue known as the Minerva of Arezzo was investigated. The laser scanning was performed twice, before and during the restoration process, to monitor the variations of shape on the whole statue. The high-resolution survey with the micro-profilometer was carried out on selected areas, to monitor the corrosion of the bronze surface.