The Google Art Project expands online today with a collection of more than 200 objects displayed in full 3D. The Google Art Project already archived thousands of murals, paintings and more for viewing on the web. Not all artifacts are flat, though, but the folks in Mountain View added nearly 300 3D scans so you can examine detailed animal skulls and ornate sculptures from the comfort of your sofa. These objects are available – to the public – to be rotated and zoomed in on, allowing users to get up close and personal with them in ways never before possible, online or off.
Oddities and rare pieces of artwork can now be turned around and inspected from all angles, all thanks to 3D scanning technology Google is now making available to museums around the world for free. Flip through new collections from six museums before rotating a skull with your mouse or touchpad to see features from every angle — like the helmeted hornbill above from the California Academy of Sciences.If you’re not into animal bones, don’t worry: There’s art, too. Thanks to places like the Dallas Museum of Art and Museo d’Arte Orientale, you can explore sculptures, masks and other ancient artifacts as well rite from your home without having to do much!
Through each of these museums in the Google Art Project library, users are able to see everything from animal skulls to ancient human masks and statues. Funerary objects, models, carvings, and priceless artifacts of many types also included.
Once you’ve found an object to a 3D object, you’ll be able to turn said object around with your mouse by holding down and moving. If you’re having trouble getting it to work elsewhere, try using Google Chrome.
This program began with 6 global pilot partners. The collection includes pieces of artwork and nature from the following institutions. Click any of the following museum links to enter their burgeoning collection of 3D-scanned objects.
1. The California Academy of Sciences
2. The Israel Museum in Jerusalem
3. Los Angeles County Museum of Art
4. Dallas Museum of Art
5. Museo d’Arte Orientale in Rome
6. Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien in Vienna
