In early 2016, highly acclaimed harpist Margaret Köll approached Factum Arte to create a 1:1 facsimile of the Barberini Harp, considered one of the greatest musical instruments of the Baroque era. In collaboration with Eric Kleinmann, a harp-making specialist, the facsimile will be created as a functional instrument.

© Factum Arte

© Factum Arte

© Factum Arte

© Factum Arte

The Barberini Harp was recorded using mid and close-range photogrammetry at the highest resolution, and was carried out at the Museo Nazionale degli Strumenti Musicali in Rome on 13th June 2016 by Factum Arte´s Manuel Franquelo and Voula Paraskevi, and by Guendalina Damone, manager of Factum Foundation´s Lucida Lab in Milan.

The aim was to take as many images of the harp from all angles and with a 90% overlap, which would then be processed and translated through software to create an accurate 3D model of the harp. Gold always presents problems for photographic recording, and so the instrument was recorded using cross-polarised filters.

Detail of the gold surface of the Barberini Harp © Factum Arte

Detail of the gold surface of the Barberini Harp © Factum Arte

Detail of the gold surface of the Barberini Harp © Factum Arte

Detail of the gold surface of the Barberini Harp © Factum Arte

Manuel Franquelo recording the Barberini Harp using short and mid-range photogrammetry

The data has now been post processed and Factum Arte aims to reproduce the decorative elements that, after the gilding and processing by Factum's team expertise, will ensure the accuracy of the facsimile of this unique baroque instrument.

Scanned and processed Barberini Harp 3D renders before ZBrush (details) © Factum Arte

Scanned and processed Barberini Harp 3D renders before ZBrush (details) © Factum Arte

Scanned and processed Barberini Harp 3D renders before ZBrush (details) © Factum Arte

Scanned and processed Barberini Harp 3D renders before ZBrush (details) © Factum Arte