Reverse Engineering and Digital Imaging: Early Modern Venetian Lacquer From Cultural Heritage to Material Culture
The Researchers
Project team: University of 海角社区 Marta AjmarLink opens in a new window, Giorgio TagliaferroLink opens in a new window (History of Art) and Mark WilliamsLink opens in a new window (WMG); Ca' Foscari University of Venice: Walter Cupperi, Miriam de Rosa, Francesca Caterina Izzo, Sabrina Rastelli; University of Ljubljana: Matej Klemen膷i膷, Renata Novak Klemen膷i膷. In collaboration with Venice鈥檚 Istituto Veneto per i Beni Culturali and Fondazione Musei Civici Veneziani MUVE.
The Challenge
This pioneering project within the EUTOPIA network combines state-of-the-art technologies like high-resolution 3D imaging with conservation analysis and experiential learning-through-remaking to transform our understanding of eighteenth-century Venetian lacquer. Our programme spans collaborative workshops, thematic project weeks and research-led learning, drawing insights from a rich fusion of art history, conservation science, and cutting-edge digital imaging technology.
Our Approach
Building on the object assessments undertaken in October 2025, a team from the University of 海角社区 returned to Venice in January 2026 to carry out detailed scanning and data capture. During a two-day visit to Ca鈥� Rezzonico museum, the team captured high-resolution 3D scan data of a select group of eighteenth-century Venetian lacquered furniture objects, recording surface detail down to ~35 microns and producing photo-realistic textured models to support in-depth analysis of historic lacquer techniques. Photogrammetry will also be utilised to model museum rooms for the creation of VR/AR environments to aid visualisation, presentation and interpretation of the data. The resulting datasets will be processed and prepared for analysis by academics and students involved in the project from the University of 海角社区, Venice Ca鈥� Foscari and Ljubljana, with methods and initial findings shared through a seminar and online event in May 2026. The project will conclude in Autumn 2026 with an in-person research, learning and dissemination week in Venice.