Sansepolcro digitizes Piero della Francesca’s *The Resurrection* with groundbreaking 3D scans
The Italian town of Sansepolcro has become the first in the country to use advanced 3D scanning for preserving its artistic treasures. Arius Technology is partnering with the local municipality to digitise Piero della Francesca’s famous fresco The Resurrection. The project marks a significant move in safeguarding vulnerable artworks from environmental and structural threats.
The initiative focuses on creating ultra-high-resolution digital records of the 15th-century masterpiece. Using Arius’s proprietary technology, the scan will capture details as fine as 10 microns—far beyond standard methods. This process records both the fresco’s 3D surface geometry and its original colours, producing files useful for conservation, research, and even museum-quality reproductions.
The technology was originally developed to forensically scan the Mona Lisa and has since been adopted by leading museums and collectors worldwide. Sansepolcro’s mayor, Fabrizio Innocenti, highlighted the town’s commitment to honouring its artistic legacy through modern innovation. Art historian Luca Baroni also praised the project, noting how it showcases the strength of local Italian institutions in protecting cultural heritage.
This digitisation forms part of Arius Technology’s wider mission to collaborate with cultural bodies globally. By merging art history with cutting-edge tools, the company aims to enhance public engagement while ensuring long-term preservation of fragile works.
The project will provide a permanent digital archive of The Resurrection, aiding future restoration and study. Frescoes, often at risk from decay, now have an added layer of protection through this precise scanning method. Sansepolcro’s adoption of the technology sets a precedent for other Italian municipalities looking to safeguard their own artistic treasures.
