FAC-SIMILES

Graphic documentation and museums of Etruscan painting

FAC-SIMILE is a program of research and documentation of graphic reproductions of Etruscan painting produced between the 18th and 20th centuries. The third part of this program consists in the exhibition of facsimiles and digital mediation, with the presentation of an Etruscan tomb in VR. It is on this aspect that I bring my contribution.

This program of the French School of Rome is led by the researcher in Etruscan art Natacha Lubtchansky, teaching at the University of Tours, the archaeologist Susanna Sarti and Lucrezia Cuniglio, from the Superintendence in Archaeology of Tuscany.

You can learn more on the program page: https://www.efrome.it/la-recherche/programmes/programmes-scientifiques-2017-2021/fac-simile.html

I have worked on a first Game Design Document that presents the existing solutions to realize the serious game of visit of the tomb of the Orcus (or tomba dell'orco) and that proposes a first example of graphic interface, you can consult this document by clicking on the link below (French Only):

Game Design Document - Tombe de l'Orcus - (French)

The graphical interface looks like this:

A crosshair allows the player to aim at the vases and facsimiles displayed on the wall that he wishes to consult. A map of the tomb allows the player to find his way around. The facsimiles displayed on the walls of the tomb, which are interchangeable, have their names displayed at the top left to distinguish them..

When the player presses the action button, they are taken to an interface that displays information about the displayed item. Here, a vase that does not belong to the tomb has been taken as an example to illustrate the situation. The player has access to the precise name of the object or facsimile, and can read a full description and analysis. The player can also rotate the furniture and zoom in to view the works in detail.

The project could not be completed as it was supposed to launch in Spring/Summer 2020, but due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, the project launch had to be postponed and I was not available afterwards.