Brussels, 29/10/2014 (Agence Europe) - Thanks to the EU-funded research project LED4ART, visitors to the Sistine Chapel in Rome will be able to appreciate the work of art in all its splendour.
Michelangelo's paintings will now be illuminated by a revolutionary new light emitting diode (LED) system that provides much better lighting with, in addition, 60% savings on energy costs and emissions. The gentler technology reduces the ageing of the painting compared to the old system, said the European Commission on 29 October.
“Art exists to inspire us and illuminate our minds. Now that we have illuminated the Sistine Chapel with LED, Michelangelo's art can fulfil this role even more than it has up until now throughout history”, said outgoing Digital Affairs Commissioner Neelie Kroes.
The Commission has invested €870,000 in the new system. The 7,000 diodes of the installation mean Michelangelo's frescoes can be seen as never before: some can now be seen in three dimensions from the floor level for the first time, and all can be viewed more precisely.
Wasteful incandescent light bulbs are being phased out and the EU is switching to greener lighting, with new energy efficient and eco-friendly technologies, such as LEDs. The Commission says that, by 2020, this will save enough energy to power 11 million households a year, while cutting average household electricity bills by €25 to €50 a year. (IL)