Michelangelo’s David Gets Ultra-Realistic 3D Printed Copy

Did you know that a team of engineers and restorers from Italy have created a 3D printed copy of Michelangelo’s sculptural masterpiece “David”? The iconic 17-foot copy, as tall as the original, which stands in Florence’s Galleria dell’Accademia, is the most faithful replica of the statue ever made.

The perfect copy

One of the most renowned sculptures in the world Michelangelo’s “David” is known for its size and striking appearance. It was carved out of a single block of marble by a 26-year-old Michelangelo between 1501 and 1504. The statue depicts the biblical hero David, who slayed the giant Goliath with his sling.

Although there have been many replicas in the past, the digested “David”, currently on display at an expo in Dubai, has been hailed as the most accurate copy yet. It bears all the imperfections, stains and cracks of its 500-years-old famed original. And what’s more it was done without posing any risk to the original structure!

Here’s how the replica was made using state-of-the-art technology:

The process began in December last year by scanning the original sculpture to obtain a digital version. Due to the height of the sculpture, the researchers used two high-resolution cameras, a laser and a tracer to record all the details of the statue.

As many as 19 individual copies of the statue were made using 3D printers. The different parts were then assembled to bring the copy to life. Even the tiniest of imperfections seen on the original-discolouration and abrasion-were added to the replica.

What is 3D printing art?

The last few years have witnessed the emergence of 3D printing art as a form of creative expression. The cutting edge manufacturing technique creates a layer-by-layer three dimensional object using a computer created design. The medium allows artists to bring their imagination to life in an unprecedented manner.

Famous 3D printed artworks

Due to its magical ability to accurately replicate objects without harming the source, 3D printing is being used in a big way in conservation and restoration of art.

Here are some examples:

  • Some parts of the Monumental Arch of Palmyra, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Syria, was reconstructed using 3D printers in 2016. Concrete replicas were created to restore the historical piece of art to its former glory, a year after it was destroyed in a terrorist attack in 2015.
  • In April 2021, to mark the 48th anniversary of the death of Pablo Picasso, a couple of scientists used AI and 3D printing technology to recreate a lost artwork hidden beneath one of his finished canvases. In his early years, Picasso sometimes painted atop existing works as he couldn’t afford art supplies. Using a software called Oxia Palus, the duo have also created colour images of 20 lost paintings, which could previously be seen only via X-ray.
  • The duo also released NFTs based on the artworks. NFTs are non fungible tokens. The humanoid Sophia famously auctioned off a digital work it produced in collaboration with an Italian artist, for $688,888!

 

Picture Credit : Google

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