Digital images represent the primary tool for diagnostics and documentation of the state of preservation of artifacts. Today the interpretive filters that allow one to characterize information and communicate it are extremely subjective. Our research goal is to study a quantitative analysis methodology to facilitate and semi-automate the recognition and polygonization of areas corresponding to the characteristics searched. To this end, several algorithms have been tested that allow for separating the characteristics and creating binary masks to be statistically analyzed and polygonized. Since our methodology aims to offer a conservator-restorer model to obtain useful graphic documentation in a short time that is usable for design and statistical purposes, this process has been implemented in a single Geographic Information Systems (GIS) application.

This contribution presents the restoration and virtual reconstruction of a painted tomb from the Lucan period (4th century BC), now dismounted and kept in the deposits of the National Archaeological Museum of Paestum. The virtual reconstruction that was carried out is based on several elements: identification of traces of the original color on the surfaces; pigment analysis; study of the execution technique; iconographic comparison with other painted pieces of the same corpus and reconstruction by levels (colored backgrounds, decorative elements; figurative elements). The video, which illustrates both the restoration intervention of the tomb and the virtual reconstruction, was presented at the RECH5 conference and it can be seen at: https://www.facebook.com/officinabeniculturali.info/videos/200967307895086. It shows the different phases of the restoration work, such as cleaning and consolidation, and the subsequent reintegration of the virtual models, presenting how the intervention was carried out in a way that respects the authenticity of the work.

This work proposes a methodology of digital analysis of the state of conservation of a canvas painting to solve difficulties related to the pictorial reintegration of paintings that present an excessive number of different lacunae in terms of size and extent. The case study is related to the small-size oil on canvas painting executed by an unknown artist, where the lacunae were challenging to analyze and localize graphically. Therefore, it required a careful evaluation of the approach to be used during the pictorial reintegration intervention. Using an image analysis method, based on the semi-automatic extraction approach, the state of conservation’s graphic relief outlining different virtual operating proposals was obtained.