1st Workshop on Analysis and Recording of Cultural Heritage in Venice

Beginning with a general introduction to ARCHiVe and to Cini’s collections, the class continues with the fundamentals of photography theory applied to digitisation of cultural heritage. Special highlight is given to the 2D recording systems developed and employed at ARCHiVe: the participants visit ARCHiVe laboratory to observe the recording technologies in action.

The session ends with a comprehensive guided tour of Fondazione Giorgio Cini, covering the cloisters, the monumental staircase, the photolibraries, and libraries, with a particular focus on the rare books collection in the Manica Lunga Library. There the participants have the opportunity to analyse a showcase of a selection of unique or rare pieces from the library collections, guided through the history of books and print.

The first hands-on session of the workshop see the participants divided in small groups to record a selection of documents with Replica scanner, V-scanner, and Vacuum plane. Each student gets a chance to try every recording system while digitising: 

• a rare book from the Fondazione Giorgio Cini collection: Aelius Donatus, Pro impetrando ad rempublicam litterariam… Venezia, Lucantonio Giunta, 1510. 
• documents from Ettore Sottsass Jr. (1907-2017) archive: photographic positives, notes, booklets, correspondence, and other loose sheets, part of the architecture and design projects of the author’s archive at Cini. 

Then, an introduction to specific methods for post-processing 2D image file awaits the participants: processing, management, and archiving systems for 2D information, and the potential of AI in data management. 

Divided into three groups, the participants get specific training and work with Lucida, Photogrammetry and LiDAR, recording different areas and artworks of Fondazione Cini.

The participants are trained to the technical and practical aspects of the recording with the different systems and get to know which methods should be used for the different type of artworks and locations (paintings, scultpures, architectures). 

Each day one group dedicates to one system so that by the end of the week each student gets a chance to practice for a whole session with every 3D recording system.

The third day starts with a theory class about 3D digital preservation: skills, methods, results, and uses. 

Then, the class introduces to the post-processing of data recorded with Lucida. 

Ther materials recorded with Lucida included: 

• two canvases from the Foresteria of Fondazione Cini (Paesaggio con figure e Paesaggio con cascata e figure, attributed to Marco Ricci, C. XVII-XVIII).

The workshop continues with a visit to the refectory of the Fondazione to analyse the Nozze di Cana facsimile (created by Factum in 2006) on the way to the recording sites of Foresteria and Corridor of Art History Institute at Fondazione Cini.

There, the groups work with Lucida, Photogrammetry and LiDAR recording different artpieces and getting specific training for each technique. 

The fourth day continue with a theory class about 2D digital preservation, with a focus on the creation of digital libraries and digital archives (including archival description and architecture of data).

Follows an introduction to the post-processing of data recorded with Photogrammetry.

The pieces recorded with Photogrammetry included:

• high and low reliefs in the corridor of the Art History Institute of Fondazione Cini (C. XV-XVI).

The workshop moves to the Galleria of Palazzo Cini where the participants have the opportunity of visiting the exhibiting spaces. There, the groups work with Lucida, Photogrammetry and LiDAR on a selection of artworks:

• with Lucida the participants practice on two canvases from the Palazzo Cini Gallery (Testa di orientale dalla barba scura, Lorenzo Tiepolo, and Testa di orientale dalla barba grigia, Giandomenico Tiepolo, 1753-1755);
• using Photogrammetry they focus on the recording of a wooden sculpture from the Cini collection (Madonna con il bambino, late C. XIV – beginning XV);
• LiDAR thecnology is used to record the interiors of Palazzo Cini (as well as the Cini’s Foresteria during the previous days).

Concludes the classes a theory session about 3D digital preservation with the presentation of relevant case studies.

With the support of the instructors, each group gathers the data acquired and post-processed during the past week to prepare a conclusive presentation to be shared in the afternoon with the colleagues, the instructors and a selected audience of experts.

Each group present to the audience two recording techniques (one 2D and one 3D) summarising the tasks for capturing, processing and archiving the data from a technical point of view.

Moreover, each team proposes possible outputs for the data: how to use the recorded information to preserve, study and disseminate cultural heritage.