Research-based 3D modelling of Renaissance built environments: workflow, uncertainty and standards

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We seek to recruit and train a PhD student that will work in the field of 3D digital reconstruction, and its associated methods and standards. The project will develop and apply innovative methodologies to examples relating to the art and architecture of Renaissance Florence connecting with the National Gallery collections, most likely one or more artworks originally produced (c. 1400-1550). It will be delivered in parallel to an ongoing collaboration between the National Gallery and Prof. Nevola's 'Immersive Renaissance' project (funded by the Getty Foundation, through its Digital Art History initiative).The PhD project has a core focus on the technical application of 3D modelling to heritage and museums contexts, built around key case examples centred on selected works in the National Gallery, to reconstruct their original settings andenvironment. The candidate will adopt and further develop the workflow that has been developed for research-based modelling as part of the Florence4D project; particular attention will be given to establishing standards for the application ofIIIF to 3D models and going beyond the specific technical task to develop and resolve some of the research questions that arise from the process. The project case examples focus on artworks originally produced in Florence, framing thesethrough spatial digital technologies, primarily interoperable 3D modelling. It should be noted that the project is 'covid-proof' in that much of the necessary data collection (in the form of high resolution lidar scans and photogrammetry) has already been conducted, meaning that desk-based work can begin from the outset.Two likely case examples will form the basis for a significant contribution to the art-historical scholarship, and to the existing knowledge on major works in the National Gallery collections: Filippino Lippi altar for the Rucellai chapel at San Pancrazio (https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/filippino-lippi-the-virgin-and-child-with-saints-jerome-and-dominic) and the 'Camera terrena' of the Palazzo Medici including paintings in the National Gallery collection: Paolo Uccello, 'Battle of San Romano' (https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/paolo-uccello-the-battle-of-san-romano). The underpinning art historical research for these is underway in ongoing research conducted by theFlorence4D project, and necessary scan data was collected in October 2020. The research data will be structured in an OmekaS database using a CiDOC-CRM ontologies, allowing the student to directly work on methodologies for linking underpinning data to the 3D models produced.This project will be conducted as a collaboration with the National Gallery on account of the Gallery's unrivalled collection of relevant artworks and the potential of extending the contextualized understanding of these through research-based digital visualisation. We would also welcome the student developing possible connections with the other CDP institutions, the Bowes Museum and York Museums Trust, as both have Italian holdings in their collections. This could perhaps relate to the development of a simplified workflow for a virtual 3D room, populated with collections objects, for the purposes of visualisation for visitors. There is also potential for exploring the extension of these model through redeployment to a3D/AR app platform as a replicable public-facing output. The activity will build on growing activity the National Gallery is involved in through digital approaches to research and audience engagement, while also developing the skills of the PhD student and extending the digital art history capacity and expertise at the University of Exeter.