Practice of using virtual reconstruction in the restoration of monumental painting of the church of the transfiguration of our saviour on nereditsa hill

Abstract

St. Petersburg State University has developed a method for restoration of partially or completely lost monumental paintings. As an example and a practical ap-plication of this new technology a virtual reconstruction of the fresco paintings of the Church of the Transfiguration of Our Savior on Nereditsa Hill, a church that was almost completely destroyed during the Second World War was completed. The basic sources of virtual reconstruction were archaeological materials, archival and contemporary historical documents, architectural and art papers, and scientific research in this field. Two main methods were used in the process of virtual reconstruction: Computer graphics technology and analog pictorial reconstruction. The first method makes it possible to accomplish the work of reconstruction with complete fidelity, whereas the second method helps to convey the artist's style, so as to reproduce the form, direction, and strength of the artist's touch and texture of the frescos. The results of the project can be used for further practical work for the restoration of the object. The methodology developed by authors of the project may open new possibilities for the restoration of other fresco ensembles.