Abstract
The diploma thesis presented a digital reconstruction on the site of fragments of a painting with the motif of the Saint Christopher frescoon the exterior wall of the Church of Saint Thomas near Velike Poljane. The fresco is in an extremely deteriorated condition due to its situation on the outside wall, where it is gradually being destroyed by different factors. I decided to reconstruct it, but a restoration in situ using the buon fresco technique would not have been an appropriate procedure, because the reconstructed fresco would - like the original – deteriorate after some time. To prevent this from happening, I opted for the fabrication of a digital reconstruction, which could then be exhibited in the original location.
Before tackling the fabrication of the digital reconstruction, I examined and assessed the condition of the Saint Christopher fresco in situ. The work is so severely deteriorated that hardly any detail could be discerned. Due to its damaged state, I had to explore minutely the story of Saint Christopher and examine several analogical artworks to get a better idea of the fresco’s motif before finally beginning the digital reconstruction.
The thesis focuses on three aspects. The first, Traditional Wall Painting Materials and Techniques, analyses the composition and materials used in the production of a traditional wall painting. Chapter Two entitled Copistics examines the history of copistics as well as the importance and purpose of copying wall paintings. In addition, the last chapter features some other examples of digital reconstruction. The second part, Fabrication of the Digital Reconstruction, includes the iconographic analysis of the Saint Christopher wall painting, the collected analogical works, the assessment of the artwork’s condition, and the steps followed in the fabrication of the digital reconstruction in Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. Finally, I also chose the print and the material which could be used to print the reconstruction.
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