Under the title Virtual Experiments for Wooden Artwork, an international, top-class colloquium was held on 5 November 2021 under the auspices of the Institute for Statics and Dynamics of Supporting Structures at TU Dresden in cooperation with the Dresden University of Fine Arts (HfBK). The aim of the event was to use prominent examples to demonstrate the potential of current engineering methods in use for conservation and restoration, thus opening up entirely new perspectives for museums. The focus was essentially on the interdisciplinary use of theoretical-numerical approaches such as the finite element method for simulating and predicting structural responses of artworks and objects as a result of climatic and mechanical effects.

Prominent examples in the lectures included the portrait of the Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci and the Swedish Vasa ship from the 17th century. The Dresden group presented a detailed experimental and numerical analysis of icons from the Russian Memorial Church of St Alexei in Leipzig. Extensive research was conducted on replicas made with partners from the Andrey Rublev Museum of Ancient Russian Culture, Moscow, and the Moscow State Academy of Arts, named after V.I. Surikov.

More than 100 experts participated in the online international and highly interdisciplinary colloquium. The nine invited papers were intensively discussed and stimulated a wide range of future activities and collaborations.

© Institut für Statik und Dynamik der Tragwerke

Until the publication of the corresponding conference proceedings on the state of the art of the field of work at the beginning of next year, the lectures can be accessed on the website of the Institute of Statics and Dynamics. Information on how to obtain the conference proceedings is also given there.

https://tu-dresden.de/bu/bauingenieurwesen/sdt/forschung/2016/historische-holztafelbilder-und-ikonen