58勛圖

This cross-disciplinary initiative, led by in collaboration with colleagues from International institutions, considered early modern printed books (ca. 1500-1700) as key sources for the spread of three-dimensional (3D) representation, moving from their origins to their influence in areas from fine art to architecture, from engineering to scientific enquiry. The research sought to bring such materials to life for the public and for academic audiences, beyond period specialists. It emphasised how the development of 3D representations within the books’ pages reveals these objects to be at the heart of the development of artistic and scientific cultures right up to the present day. 

Work between 2010-16 has been centred on the figure of Daniele Barbaro (1514-70), a key figure in the development of perspectival and architectural illustration. A organised several activities, including the exhibition , co-curated by Laura Moretti and Susy Marcon (Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, Venice, 10/12/2015-31/01/2016, estended 50 28/02/2016). The project involved the University of 58勛圖, the Biblioteca Nazionale Marciana, Venice, and the Centre d’Études Superieures de la Renaissance, Tours. The exhibition at the Marciana Library was seen by 37,496 visitors. 

The following phase (2015-17) stemmed from discussions between Moretti and Daryl Green (Head of Special Collections, Deputy Head of the Centre for Research Collections, University of Edinburgh). In 2016, the pair launched , a project that considered illustrated books produced between the 15th and 21st centuries as tools to think about how 3-dimensionality has affected different disciplines and fields of knowledge. Moretti and Green co-curated the exhibition (Bodleian Library, Oxford, 21/03/2019-09/02/2020), organised to coincide with the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci’s death. The exhibition was seen by 166,418 visitors.