Frameless scans: on unimages circa 1753 and 2024

A groundbreaking approach to analyzing Giambattista Tiepolo’s monumental 1753 ceiling fresco in Würzburg, Germany—the world’s largest continuous ceiling painting—reveals new dimensions through digital transformation. By converting the fresco into a dynamic 3D model, researchers demonstrate how data manipulation can distort and recontextualize historical artwork, shifting focus from traditional visual representation to 'unimages'—abstract, data-driven interpretations. This method, applied in Paolo Patelli’s film project The Countable Parts of the World, exposes hidden structures within the fresco, offering fresh perspectives on its composition and historical significance. The study bridges art history, digital humanities, and media studies, challenging conventional approaches to interpreting monumental cultural heritage.

Parikka, J. (2024). Frameless scans: on unimages circa 1753 and 2024. Artnodes, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.7238/artnodes.v0i34.424655