{"id":1809251,"date":"2026-03-05T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-04T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1809251"},"modified":"2026-03-05T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-03-04T21:00:00","slug":"the-met-introduces-high-definition-3d-scans-of-dozens-of-art-historical-objects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1809251","title":{"rendered":"The Met Introduces High-Definition 3D Scans of Dozens of Art Historical Objects"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content prose-colossal max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"563\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/met-3d-4.gif\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt='A 3D animation of \"Perseus with the Head of Medusa\" by Antonio Canova' style=\"object-fit:cover\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Animation courtesy of NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation). All images courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0bc941e6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">The Met Introduces High-Definition 3D Scans of Dozens of Art Historical Objects<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-03-05T10:46:08-06:00\">March 5, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-art\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/art\/\" rel=\"tag\">Art<\/a><a class=\"category-history\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/history\/\" rel=\"tag\">History<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/kmothes\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Kate Mothes<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing has-visible-labels has-icon-color is-style-logos-only is-layout-flex wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-is-layout-flex\">\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-facebook has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F03%2Fmetropolitan-museum-of-art-3d-models-art-history%2F&amp;title=The%20Met%20Introduces%20High-Definition%203D%20Scans%20of%20Dozens%20of%20Art%20Historical%20Objects\" aria-label=\"Share\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tShare\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-mail has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#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\" aria-label=\"Email\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tEmail\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"470755\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"0\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>In the age of the internet, we\u2019re fortunate to have virtual access to museum collections around the world, thanks to objects in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/tags\/public-domain\/\">the public domain<\/a> and programs like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.metmuseum.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Metropolitan Museum of Art<\/a>\u2019s Open Access Initiative. Through a searchable digital catalogue, visitors to the museum\u2019s website can see hundreds of thousands of objects, many images of which are available for download. And <a href=\"https:\/\/www.metmuseum.org\/hubs\/open-access\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">it\u2019s not alone<\/a>\u2014other institutions like the Art Institute of Chicago, The National Gallery of Art, and The Cleveland Museum of Art, among others, make pieces in their collections accessible to all.<\/p>\n<p>The thing is, digital images don\u2019t always give us the full picture, so to speak. Even two-dimensional paintings and drawings have unique textures, structural details, and materials that we can only really appreciate in person. This won\u2019t ever really change\u2014nothing beats the real thing. But one caveat is that even in person, much of the work remains hidden. We can\u2019t see the backs of oil paintings, for example, and edges are often hidden within frames. Thanks to The Met\u2019s continued emphasis on imaging, we can now experience every detail in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.metmuseum.org\/art\/collection\/search?showOnly=has3d&amp;offset=0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">three-dimensional renderings<\/a> of nearly 140 significant objects in its holdings.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/met-3d-5.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470755\" title=\"The Temple of Dendur (10th century B.C.E.)\" data-rl_title=\"The Temple of Dendur (10th century B.C.E.)\" data-rl_caption=\"The Temple of Dendur (10th century B.C.E.)\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/met-3d-5.jpg\" alt=\"The Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitan Museum of Art\" class=\"wp-image-470760\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">The Temple of Dendur (10th century B.C.E.)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Met is home to a whopping 1.5 million historic objects, which range from the iconic Temple of Dendur and Impressionist paintings to African tribal ceremonial sculptures and medieval pottery. The museum recently published 3D models of some of these, plus numerous other objects, including nine produced in collaboration with NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation).<\/p>\n<p>With careful attention to technical precision and color, these animated renderings are research-grade tools, allowing us to see the objects at any angle. View van Gogh\u2019s brushstrokes closer than you\u2019re allowed to in a museum, zoom in on a Babylonian cuneiform tablet, and turn an 18th-century Turkish tile over to see its reverse side.<\/p>\n<p>The Met plans to continue adding 3D scans to its online library. Explore more on the museum\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.metmuseum.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/met-3d-2.gif\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470755\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"618\" height=\"298\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/met-3d-2.gif\" alt=\"A 3D-scanned animation of the Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitan Museum of Art\" class=\"wp-image-470758\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/met-3d-7.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470755\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1572\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/met-3d-7.jpg\" alt=\"Vincent van Gogh's &quot;Wheat Field with Cypresses&quot;\" class=\"wp-image-470756\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/met-3d-3.gif\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470755\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/met-3d-3.gif\" alt=\"A gif of a 3D scan of Vincent van Gogh's &quot;Wheat Field with Cypresses&quot;\" class=\"wp-image-470759\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/met-3d-6.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470755\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1339\" height=\"1677\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/met-3d-6.jpg\" alt=\"An 18th-century Ka'ba tile by Osman Ibn Mehmed\" class=\"wp-image-470762\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/met-3d-1.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470755\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1709\" height=\"1413\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/met-3d-1.jpeg\" alt=\"A detail of a 3D scan of an 18th-century Ka'ba tile by Osman Ibn Mehmed\" class=\"wp-image-470757\"><\/a><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"after-entry\" role=\"complementary\" aria-label=\"After Entry\">\n<section id=\"block-16\" class=\"widget widget_block widget_text\">\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:#88caf0\" class=\"has-inline-color\"><strong>Do stories and artists like this matter to you?<\/strong><\/mark> Become a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"118516\">Colossal Member<\/a> now, and support independent arts publishing.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"block-17\" class=\"widget widget_block\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top member-benefits is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hide advertising<\/li>\n<li>Save your favorite articles<\/li>\n<li>Get 15% off in the <a href=\"https:\/\/colossal.shop\/\">Colossal Shop<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Receive members-only newsletter<\/li>\n<li>Give 1% for art supplies in K-12 classrooms<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top member-options is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Join us today!<\/h3>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-verdigris-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colossal.memberful.com\/checkout?plan=113464\">$7\/month<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-verdigris-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colossal.memberful.com\/checkout?plan=113463\">$75\/year<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-chalk-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\">Explore membership options<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"20\" height=\"21\" class=\"wp-image-327872\" style=\"width: 20px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/arrow-left.svg\" alt><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/aside>\n<nav class=\"navigation post-navigation\" role=\"navigation\">\n<div class=\"nav-links\">\n<div class=\"nav-previous\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/03\/david-altrath-grundtvigs-church-copenhagen-photography-architecture\/\" rel=\"prev\">Next article<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Animation courtesy of NHK (Japan Broadcasting Corporation). All images courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art The Met Introduces High-Definition 3D Scans of Dozens of Art Historical Objects March 5, 2026 ArtHistory Kate Mothes Share Email Bookmark In the age of the internet, we\u2019re fortunate to have virtual access to museum collections around the world, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,270],"class_list":["post-1809251","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-thisiscolossal-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1809251","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1809251"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1809251\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1809251"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1809251"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1809251"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}