KINGSTON, R.I. – March 9, 2016 – Maurizio Seracini, a world-famous art diagnostic expert, will give two lectures at the University of Rhode Island next month about the use of technology to examine and preserve art.
Seracini will discuss “A Future for our Past: Engineering Sciences for the Conservation and Preservation of World Cultural Heritage” Monday, April 4 at 5 p.m. in Galanti Lounge at the Robert L. Carothers Library and Learning Commons, 15 Lippitt Road on the Kingston campus.
On Thursday, April 7 at 6 p.m., he’ll talk about “Rediscovering Leonardo Da Vinci: The Secret Lives of Paintings.” That talk will be in the Ryan Family Auditorium at the Center for Biotechnology and Life Studies, 120 Flagg Road, also on the Kingston campus.
Both events are free and open to the public. A reception will follow the April 7 talk.
A native of Italy, Seracini is a pioneer in the use of multispectral imaging and other diagnostic and analytical technologies to examine art and structures. He has studied more than 2,500 works of art and historic buildings, ranging from Da Vinci’s “Last Supper” to Botticelli’s “Allegory of Spring.” He has also investigated paintings by Raphael and Caravaggio.
Seracini made international headlines when he participated in the search for Da Vinci’s long-lost artwork, “The Battle of Anghiari,” behind a mural in Palazzo Vecchio, Florence’s 14-century hall. He spent years carrying out tests that used laser scanners, X-ray machines and radar equipment, and he was even featured in Dan Brown’s novel, “The Da Vinci Code,” for his research. In 2012, the project in Florence was halted amid concerns about destroying the mural.
A Visiting Professor in the School of Engineering at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, Seracini is director of the Center of Interdisciplinary Science for Art, Architecture and Archaeology at University of California, San Diego and founder of Editech, a diagnostic center for cultural heritage in Florence.
His talks are part of URI’s Distinguished Visiting International Scholars Program, which provides funding to bring scholars from outside the United States to meet with URI students, faculty and administrators and present a public lecture.
“Seracini’s visit will offer URI and its community a unique opportunity to learn how to apply science to preserve world cultural heritage,” says Michelangelo La Luna, professor of Italian at URI and director of the URI Italian Engineering Program. “During the visit of Professor Seracini we are planning to discuss the possibility of launching a new Engineering Sciences for Cultural Heritage degree that can attract students from all over the world.”
La Luna also thanked President David M. Dooley, Provost Donald H. DeHayes, Arts and Science Dean Winifred Brownell and College of Engineering Dean Raymond Wright for their support of the project to further improve the quality and value of the Italian International Engineering Program.
For more information about the lectures, contact Professor La Luna at 401-874-5968 or laluna@uri.edu.
Pictured above: Maurizio Seracini, a world-famous art diagnostic expert who will give two lectures at the University of Rhode Island next month about the use of technology to examine and preserve world cultural heritage. Photo courtesy of Maurizio Seracini.