Exhibition view of ‘L’immagine sovrana. Urbano VIII e i Barberini’ © Alberto Novelli
Exhibition view of ‘L’immagine sovrana. Urbano VIII e i Barberini’ © Alberto Novelli
The original sculpture, belonging to a private collection and on long-term loan to the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, was recorded in high resolution in September 2022 using a structured white light scanner and photogrammetry. After processing the digital data into a 3D model, the sculpture was 3D printed and the mould was cast in gesso and marble powder in Madrid. This was then hand-finished by Factum Arte’s experts in sculpture, creating a perfect visual copy which captures the distinctive, ethereally smooth surface that Bernini is known for.
As always, the digital data continues to play an important part in preserving the original through the accurate record of the surface of the sculpture for condition report. The exhibition at the Gallerie Nazionali di Arte Antica celebrated the 400th anniversary of the election of Cardinal Maffeo Barberini as Pope Urban VIII. A great patron of arts, his 21 years as Head of the Catholic Church (1623-1644) deeply transformed Rome’s cultural and architectonic landscape. This included a long and continued support of Bernini, of which the commission of the San Sebastian is an example. The sculpture was likely made for a private chapel dedicated to San Sebastian inside the church of Sant’Andrea della Valle in Rome.
Structured white light scanning on the original sculpture © Óscar Parasiego | Factum Foundation
Pedro Miró operating the structured white light scanner to record the original © Óscar Parasiego | Factum Foundation
Structured white light scanning on the original sculpture © Óscar Parasiego | Factum Foundation
Imran Khan recording the original sculpture using photogrammetry © Oscar Parasiego | Factum Foundation
Manual colour matching carried out by Silvia Álvarez © Óscar Parasiego | Factum Foundation
Manual colour matching carried out by Silvia Álvarez © Óscar Parasiego | Factum Foundation
Manual colour matching carried out by Silvia Álvarez © Óscar Parasiego | Factum Foundation
Aniuska Martin working on the 3D printed model to prepare it for moulding © Oak Taylor-Smith | Factum Foundation
Juan Carlos Arias preparing the mould © Oak Taylor-Smith | Factum Foundation
A leg and an arm had to be moulded separately from the rest of the main 3D print to achieve best results © Oak Taylor-Smith | Factum Foundation
Tests and colour references © Oak Taylor-Smith | Factum Foundation
Tests and colour references © Oak Taylor-Smith | Factum Foundation
Tests and colour references © Oak Taylor-Smith | Factum Foundation
Details of the final facsimile © Adam Lowe
Final facsimile © Oak Taylor-Smith | Factum Foundation
Final facsimile (detail) © Oak Taylor-Smith | Factum Foundation
Final facsimile (detail) © Oak Taylor-Smith | Factum Foundation
Final facsimile (detail) © Oak Taylor-Smith | Factum Foundation
Final facsimile (detail) © Oak Taylor-Smith | Factum Foundation
Final facsimile (detail) © Oak Taylor-Smith | Factum Foundation
