A NEW CRUCIFIX FOR THE SANCTUARY OF SAN NUNZIO SULPRIZIO
Carullo Legno, an Italian excellence in woodworking and the use of advanced technologies, has completed an extraordinary project: the reproduction of an ancient 15th century crucifix for the Sanctuary of San Nunzio Sulprizio in Pescosansonesco (PE).
The intervention was carried out with the authorization and support of the Superintendence of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape and was an example of how modern technologies can be applied for the reconstruction or reproduction of assets of high artistic-cultural value. In fact, the technologies used are widely used to create digital models or physical copies for conservation purposes, in the event of events that could damage them.
PROJECT DETAILS
Client: Sanctuary of San Nunzio Sulprizio
Materiali: Solid beech wood
Execution: 3D scanning, cam programming, cnc machining
Dimensions: 140 x 40 x 200 cm (l x d x h)
Year: 2015
3D scan of the artwork
First, the 3D scan of the crucifix preserved in the Abbey of San Clemente a Casauria (PE) was performed using the Artec Eva 3D scanner. Using the Artec Studio software and the technical support of the Abacus company of Piacenza, it was possible to create a digital model extremely faithful to the original. The missing parts (fingers) were then digitally processed by the sculptor Simone Rasetti using the ZBrush software. The anatomy and sculptural style of the time were respected in the modeling.
CNC milling of sculpture
The manufacturing process continued with the milling of the wood using a CNC machine: thanks to the 3D modeling of the crucifix and the CAM software Alphacam it was possible to program the movements of the CNC phrase in order to work the material to obtain the model. The chosen wood, thePaul Maier evaporated beech, was carefully selected for its quality and grain, guaranteeing a visually and structurally excellent result. The precision of the CNC technologies allowed the material to be optimized, reducing waste to a minimum and respecting the characteristics of the original.
The finishing and pictorial decoration of the crucifix
After the milling process, the crucifix was entrusted to master painter Angelo Catano, who, inspired by 15th-century painting and sculpture, gave Christ a natural skin tone. The work was completed with a natural beech cross and a hand-worked wrought iron crown of thorns.
The finished crucifix was installed in the suggestive opening behind the altar of the Sanctuary of San Nunzio Sulprizio in Pescosansonesco (Pescara), overlooking the rock face.
This project demonstrates that modern technologies such as 3D scanning and CNC machining can reproduce works of art and cultural heritage, combining artisan tradition and technological innovation.