Physical Models and Computer Visualizations: Their History and Their Use in Museums

From antiquity to modern times, artists and scholars of all disciplines routinely built three-dimensional objects in order to represent complex concepts and appearances. Some rendered visible abstract formulas in geometrical forms like the movement of the stars; others schematized complex work flows like drainage systems, or the geographical conditions on Earth; still others proposed costly projects, such as the cupola of St. Peter in Rome, on the basis of a model. These models—many of which still survive in our museums—were constructed according to precise rules and regulations, as well as personal taste. The course offers a historical introduction to the significance of models and visualizations for the display of knowledge, and the manner in which they were crafted and used by artists, curators, physicians, and natural philosophers.

See also: Heritage, History