The Last Supper Interactive Stereoscopic and ultra-high resolution 4K/3D HD for immersive real-time virtual narrative in Italian Renaissance Art Franz Fischnaller and Yesi Maharaj Singh F.A.B.R.I.CATORS Architects of Culture – Fabricators of ideas Milan, Italy franz @fabricat.com , yesi@fabricat.com Martin Reed School of Computer Science and Electronic Eng. University of Essex Colchester UK mjreed@essex.ac.uk Abstract - This paper discusses the Last Supper Interactive (LSI) project, a real-time immersive and interactive, virtual narrative stereo application based on the Last Supper (Italian: L'Ultima Cena); a late 15th century mural painting by Leonardo da Vinci located in the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie, in Milan, Italy. Alberti’s theorem virtual tool, a virtual immersive interactive learning device, inspired by Leon Battista Alberti’s rules of linear perspective (Costruzione Legittima) was designed and implemented for LSI, serving as an interactive tool for the user . Keywords – 4K 3D-HD Stereo high definition visual content for real time VR; Ultra-high resolution visualization system; Immersive interactive storytelling and virtual narrative; Italian Renaissance Art; The Last Supper; Leonardo da Vinci; Leon Battista Alberti Costruzione Legittima; Digital Humanities; Storytelling and design of heritage; Virtual Technologies in Museums; Digital Technology for Heritage Interpretation; Virtual Exhibitions. I. INTRODUCTION The Last Supper Interactive (LSI) project is a real-time, immersive and interactive, virtual narrative stereo application based on Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece: the Last Supper, an icon of the Italian Renaissance Art. Fig. 1. The Last Supper (Italian: L'Ultima Cena), Artist: Leonardo da Vinci, Year: 1495-1498 - Type: tempera on plaster, pitch and mastic - Dimensions: 460 cm × 880 cm (181 x346 in) - Location: Refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria della Grazie, Milan, Italy - Photographic reproduction from the original painting: Copyright 2006-2007 HAL9000 S.r. This Photographic reproduction was shot after the Last Super of Leonardo was restored 1978-1999 guided by Pinin Brambilla Barcilon LSI provides user-driven interactive tools and access to the artwork, allowing visitors to be an active spectator and explore first-hand this Renaissance art work in immersive, close detail. The immersive nature of the LSI application enables users to inhabit and explore the three dimensional composition of the painting in real time from any perspective over the full 360 degree ranges and both inside and outside the picture. The project embraces an interdisciplinary and creative-based design methodology through a team, working in collaboration, across the fields of Art, Humanities and Social Sciences with design and technology; aiming to foster cross-fertilization of ideas across these disciplines. LSI was conceived as a seven-phase development planned over a number of years. Work prior to this paper has delivered phases one to five. The outcome of each phase of the LSI project was conceived to run as a standalone application. This paper describes the first two stages of Phase 6, which is currently in progress. The paper focuses on the most recent accomplishments related to stages one and two of Phase 6. Specifically we address fundamental outcomes of the implementation of Stage 1 which aims at the enrichment of the interactive narrative embedded in the LSI immersive virtual environments. We also discuss the results of the implementation of Stage 2, which aims at the upgrading, improvement and optimization of the 3D-stereo high definition visual content. Specifically, this stage delivers a real-time immersive and interactive, virtual narrative stereo application in high-definition (3D-4K) with the application adapted for an ultra-high resolution visualization system. This is not a technical paper and does not illustrate in detail how the results have been achieved, but rather describes the outcomes that have been achieved. We also provide a summary and broad overview of the LSI project, with an emphasis on the vision, motivations, history, achievements and progress towards the current stage. The paper is divided into five main parts. The first part presents a broad overview of project goals, its significance, implications and historical background; it also discusses the context/field, methodological framework and technologies used for the research and development; the second part provides a review of the whole project including the key accomplishment of each phase; achievements of the overall LSI project at this stage and current stage of development are presented in the third part; and finally the fifth part presents conclusions and future work.