Proposal for a digital reconstruction of the Romanesque tribune of Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa (France) : methodological approach
Anna Thirion, Centre d’Études Médiévales (EA4583), Université Montpellier 3
Discovered in the 1950s, the Romanesque tribune of the abbey church of Cuxa (ca 1140) was probably removed in the sixteenth century. From this very moment, several investigators tried to discover its ancient plan and elevations. The survey is made difficult by the lack of sources. Indeed, no description or representation of this work of art at the time of its existence is to be found. It is known today thanks to almost two hundred pink marble sculptures scattered in France and in the United States. Their detailed study provides vital clues to its reconstruction.
During the inventory and the examination of these elements, a new methodology was formalized and tested, to present the necessary stages in detail for the study of the scattered elements, resulting from loose architectural or sculptured sets, with the aim of their anastylosis (the original positioning and orientation of the kept elements, in relation to one another, within an undiscovered structure, in order to reconstruct it in three dimensions, virtually or in reality).
The most recent technologies allow a new approach to this set of sculptures. All the elements attributed to the ancient tribune were digitized – using various techniques. The pointclouds were worked upon, in order to obtain 3D objects that can be integrated into a digital model, designed according to the study of remains. The digital tools are used both for the research itself and for the formulation of our hypotheses or materialization of our findings. Besides, the model joins the preparatory phase of a project of museum presentation of sculptures kept in situ (in partnership with the people in charge of our national Heritage). This 3D model is made for diverse purposes, and meant to be shown to different audiences.
This process of reconstruction and its various purposes raise questions on the new tools we can use. How can they make an original contribution to the study of scattered sculptural elements with the intention of making their anastylosis? How to use them and how to consider their development in the coming years ? How to formalize the information to meet the various needs of analysis and interpretation ? I will give leading tracts to develop on these issues, together with my presentation of a proposal for a digital reconstruction of the Romanesque tribune of Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa.
Speaker Biography
Anna Thirion is attached to the Centre d’Études Médiévales of the University of Montpellier 3 (EA4583), where she is a PhD student. Her thesis is about the anastylosis of the Romanesque tribune of the abbey church of Cuxa, the study of its creation and the uses of this liturgical piece. She was granted a three year scholarship which allows her to teach Romanesque Art at the University of Montpellier 3.
She was trained to use the equipment and softwares necessary to the digitization and 3D reconstruction of the built and sculptured Heritage during a seven month contract as an investigating engineer with the French Centre National de Recherche Scientifique.
She wrote an article on the Romanesque tribune in Les cahiers de Saint-Michel de Cuxa, published in 2011.
http://cemm.upv.univ-montp3.fr/equipe/doctorants/anna-thirion/
