ABSTRACT
The practice of physically restoring the appearance of damaged and aged artefacts is long established in the field of conservation. It is still widely considered to be an essential aspect of the conservator’s role and indispensable to our appreciation of cultural heritage, particularly in the domain of pictorial art. However, the imposition of one view of the possible original appearance of an object, albeit ‘well informed’, can give rise to significant subjective approximation or complete invention. The author’s research into the application of digital imaging technology in conservation has explored the viability of providing an alternative means of visualising the past appearances of artefacts. Virtual restoration could come to displace the aesthetically motivated physical restoration of objects by offering an alternative means of conveying original appearance in the context of museum display.
