The article discusses the new digital research methodologies to investigate the concept of image similarity, taking as a case study the Lyon16ci database project. Developed in collaboration with the Visual Geometry Group at the University of Oxford, this project investigates how AI-driven image recognition can enhance scholarly analysis of visual material in the humanities. The focus is on the use of VISE software, designed to automatically retrieve visually similar images based on geometric and compositional features. The article provides a critical evaluation of the strengths and limitations of this tool in the context of art historical and visual culture research. It discusses how VISE facilitates new interpretative approaches by uncovering visual relationships and how it can effectively enhance traditional comparative methods. The author provides an overview of the advantages and constraints of using the VISE AI software to automatically retrieve similar images, presenting some of the theoretical considerations and the research possibilities provided by image recognition tools. The Lyon16ci case offers insights into the broader potential of machine vision in redefining the scope and scale of such image-based humanities research.
Digital Turris Babel. Augmented Release of Athanasius Kircher’s Archontologia
This paper presents a digital heritage project focused on Athanasius Kircher’s Turris Babel (1679), aiming to reveal and communicate the hidden visual contents enclosed within the pages of the historical book. The research develops a workflow that combines iconographic analysis, image retrieval, customized photogrammetric reconstruction, and 3D modelling to recreate the imagined architecture of the Tower of Babel and other illustrated elements such as the labyrinth. Since the tower never existed physically and survives only through engraved representations, the reconstruction process addresses the challenge of modelling an architectural fiction from a single historical source. The resulting models are integrated into a markerless augmented reality application developed with Unity and Vuforia, allowing users to navigate and explore the structures directly from the printed pages. The study demonstrates how low-cost AR tools can enhance accessibility, interpretation, and public engagement with rare books and visual cultural heritage.