Le robbiane al Santuario della Verna: sperimentazioni di rilievo digitale e modellazione 3D

The Franciscan Sanctuary of Chiusi della Verna, located on the Tuscan Apennines, in the province of Arezzo, was founded in 1213 and hosts one of the largest collections of polychrome glazed terracottas by the Della Robbia workshop. This technique, conceived by Luca della Robbia in the fifteenth century AD, gave to the works greater resistance improving the effect of the glazing, thus enhancing its plasticity and brightness. This knowledge was continued by his nephew, Andrea della Robbia, who created, among the many works produced, the most important and impressive for the complex of La Verna. The sanctuary has been the subject of several studies and research activities over the years: starting in 2013, various workshops have been conducted by different working groups of the Department of Architecture DIDA of the University of Florence, aimed to conduct the digital survey of the eremitic complex (S. Bertocci, 2008, 2015). In 2018 was also started the study of the Della Robbia terrecottas in the Basilica Maggiore, from the point of view of the digital survey, the drawing and the morphology through 3D models. For the process of digitalization of the Robbiane, has been planned the application of integrated acquisition methodologies, consisting of campaigns with a digital laser scanner and photogrammetric survey, in order to return the documentation of the Della Robbia’s works with an accurate level of detail. The use of different methodologies allowed their digital reproduction through the creation of 2D graphic drawings and 3D models, which are reliable both from the metric and morphological point of view and from the material and chromaticity of the surfaces. This research work was developed with the aim of experimenting the use of 3D models to improve the level of knowledge on the drawing and the design techniques of the Della Robbia altarpieces. Another objective is about the opportunities offered by the digitization of the existing heritage, for the creation of a virtual database of the works in the Sanctuary of La Verna. The digital archive of the drawings and 3D models, as well as being a valuable tool for study and dissemination, can be useful also as a reference for future monitoring activities and possible restoration and protection works.