NRC scientists help solve the mysteries behind the Mona Lisa using 3D scanning and the PolyWorks software suite
On September 2006, the National Research Council of Canada, in collaboration with the Centre de recherche et de restauration des musées de France (C2RMF), announced the completion of the most important scientific study ever done of Leonardo da Vinci's portrait of the Mona Lisa.
Acting on a request from the C2RMF, researchers from the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) traveled to Paris to scan the Mona Lisa with its sophisticated 3D laser scanner. NRC's 3D scanner provided a number of unique views of the portrait that will assist curators and conservators in their ongoing studies of the 500-year-old masterpiece. A major part of the processing of the data collected by the 3D scanner was performed using the PolyWorks® software suite, developed by the Canadian company InnovMetric Software Inc. PolyWorks’ technology helped scientists align the scan passes, evaluate the distortion of the wooden panel, and display three-dimensional surface relief features of the painting.
The results of this study are published in French in Au Coeur de la Joconde, by Les Éditions Gallimard, and in English in Mona Lisa: Inside the Painting, published by Harry N. Abrams Inc. The findings reveal that:
- The wood panel on which the Mona Lisa is painted is sensitive to temperature and climate variations. However, if its current storage conditions are maintained, there is no risk of degradation.
- The 12-cm split on the top half of the painting, which was probably due to the removal of the original frame and repaired between the middle of the XVIII century and beginning of the XIX century, appears to be stable and has not worsened over time.
- The very fine craquelure pattern recorded by the laser scanner seems to corroborate other inspection techniques and conclusions that support the principle of minimum intervention on the painting as recommended by the experts.
‘We are very proud to be part of such an interesting project,’ said Marc Soucy, President of InnovMetric Software. ‘PolyWorks is often associated with manufacturing work, but this time our software solution played an important role in revealing some secrets behind the most famous painting in the world. We are glad of our close cooperation with the NRC people and grateful for the great projects they bring to fruition,’ he continued.
‘The NRC group has a long, well-established R&D collaboration with InnovMetric. From the foundation of the company, the PolyWorks suite has been a key ingredient in the development of this emerging new 3D technology,’ said François Blais, Principal Research Officer and Technical Lead at NRC-IIT. ‘PolyWorks’ robustness and accuracy were crucial to the success of this project, and we are happy to count them on our team,’ he concluded.
About InnovMetric Software
Founded in 1994 in Québec City, Canada, with subsidiaries in the United States and China and distributors worldwide, InnovMetric Software Inc. has devoted its first decade of business to developing software that transforms high-density 3D digitizers into true metrology instruments. These efforts have propelled PolyWorks® as the standard point cloud engineering solution for major automotive and aeronautic OEM manufacturers and suppliers worldwide. With sales having doubled over the past two years, InnovMetric is now expanding the PolyWorks potential to new heights.
InnovMetric now integrates a wide range of hardware measurement devices including laser scanners, arm-based & hand-held probing devices, and laser trackers within its software suite, transforming PolyWorks into a truly universal 3D metrology software platform. PolyWorks has become a global corporate solution that enables the deployment of standardized methods throughout the whole organization for comparing parts to CAD, analyzing GD&T, virtually gauging dimensions, meshing high-density point clouds, and rapidly surfacing digitized meshes.
For increased user productivity, PolyWorks maximizes information-sharing through a free 3D viewer, allowing any individual to view inspection results, perform basic measurements, and generate reports. Those who use PolyWorks every day trust it for its robustness, its accuracy, and world-class technical support.