Bibliotheca Hertziana – Max-Planck-Institut für Kunstgeschichte
3D Scanning of the Bibliotheca Hertziana
The Bibliotheca Hertziana — Max-Planck Institute for Art History, in partnership with Lafayette College (United States) has initiated in January 2026 the first complete 3D scanning of its premises. All buildings — Palazzo Zuccari, the Library's Neubau, Palazzo Stroganoff, as well as the Villino — have been scanned, including basements and service areas.
Combining high-resolution photogrammetry for the interior frescoes with LiDAR scanning — accurate to six millimeters — for the entire area, the 3D models will be made available to the general public and researchers. Still photographic material of the spaces will also be made public.
This digital scan of the Hertziana hopes to provide highly valuable information for historians, restorers, and architects interested in documenting the current status of the Institute, researching its past states, and planning its future.
A complementary scan of the Villa Lante al Gianicolo, in collaboration with the Finnish Institute in Rome, has also been conducted to allow for the digital recreation of the original state of Giulio Romano's gran sala, complete with Polidoro da Caravaggio's paintings, which are kept today in the Hertziana's sala di riunione.
The project, led by Prof. Eric Hupe (Lafayette College) and Dr. Paul Guhennec (Bibliotheca Hertziana) has involved the help of several students from Lafayette and collaborators from the Hertziana: Caitlyn Carr, Ellen Charlesworth, Anna Drugan, Clay Foye, Chris Nappo, Max O’Rourke, Maggie Thompson, and Urvi Thakker.
Following data acquisition, the project is currently in its processing phase, with all models being progressively generated. Progress will be documented on this page, with new images being updated here as it goes.
Mesh model of the exterior of the Hertziana and zoomed-in view on the entrance portal, combining photogrammetry and LiDAR scan. April 2026 state. The mesh is currently being cleaned and combined with roof scans
Mesh model of the exterior of the Hertziana and zoomed-in view on the entrance portal, combining photogrammetry and LiDAR scan. April 2026 state. The mesh is currently being cleaned and combined with roof scans
Photogrammetric mesh model of the vault of the Fototeca (room B 2001). April 2026 state
Photogrammetric mesh model of the vault of the Fototeca (room B 2001). April 2026 state
Detail of the photogrammetric mesh model of the Zuccari frescoes (rooms B 0010 / 0011). April 2026 state
Detail of the photogrammetric mesh model of the Zuccari frescoes (rooms B 0010 / 0011). April 2026 state
Detail of the photogrammetric point model of the Zuccari corridor (rooms B 0010 / 0011). April 2026 state
Detail of the photogrammetric point model of the Zuccari corridor (rooms B 0010 / 0011). April 2026 state
Digital partial reconstruction of the original decorative scheme of Villa Lante al Gianicolo, combining photogrammetric mesh models of the now-empty gran sala of Villa Lante and the frescoes stored at the Hertziana (view 1). March 2026 state
Digital partial reconstruction of the original decorative scheme of Villa Lante al Gianicolo, combining photogrammetric mesh models of the now-empty gran sala of Villa Lante and the frescoes stored at the Hertziana (view 1). March 2026 state
Digital partial reconstruction of the original decorative scheme of Villa Lante al Gianicolo, combining photogrammetric mesh models of the now-empty gran sala of Villa Lante and the frescoes stored at the Hertziana (view 2). March 2026 state
Digital partial reconstruction of the original decorative scheme of Villa Lante al Gianicolo, combining photogrammetric mesh models of the now-empty gran sala of Villa Lante and the frescoes stored at the Hertziana (view 2). March 2026 state
Progressive assembling of internal LiDAR point model of Palazzo Zuccari, before meshing and cleaning. February 2026 state
Progressive assembling of internal LiDAR point model of Palazzo Zuccari, before meshing and cleaning. February 2026 state
