Explore 3D models of Met masterpieces

The Metropolitan Museum of Art has made available to the public digital 3D models of a selection of masterpieces in its collection. More than 100 art works have been scanned in ultra-high resolution with portable laser scanners that could image objects that are unmoveable and could not be scanned by traditional machines. That data combined with photogrammetry techniques that puzzle together thousands of photographs to create a photorealistic composite.

It is an eclectic grouping with pieces of different sizes, ages, geographic origins and media. What they have in common is complexity and detail that you couldn’t possibly explore in person with the naked eye. The Temple of Dendur, for example, is huge. The walls are 21 feet high and the gate is 26.5 feet high. If you wanted to see the carved lotus blossoms on the column capitals or the reliefs of the king making offerings to the gods, you’d need a jetpack. Now you can examine it from the comfort of your couch.

All the newly produced scans are presented with precise color accuracy and exceptionally high fidelity and can be explored on The Met’s website, where viewers can zoom in, rotate, and examine each model, bringing unprecedented access to significant works of art. The 3D models can also be explored in viewers’ own spaces through augmented reality (AR) on most smartphone and VR headsets, as a resource for research, exploration, and curiosity. A majority of the models are available for free download and use under The Met’s Open Access program and CC0 license.

The first 100 3D models have been released, but the project is ongoing and new models will be added as they go.

* This article was originally published here