CATEGORY
Partner Project
STATUS
ACTIVE
Tracing the Touch: Automated Fingerprint Mark Identification in Terracotta Artworks by Artus I Quellinus
Over decades, finger and palm-prints found on terracotta modelli and bozzetti have intrigued researchers [1, 2]. In 1999, the discovery of fingerprint impressions on bozzetti attributed to Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680) [1] raised an important question: could similar physical traces exist on other terracotta artworks, and could they systematically be identified and cross-matched?
A 2022 case study by Dr. Džemila Šero, in collaboration with the Rijksmuseum, examined the terracotta sculpture ‘Study for a Hovering Putto’, attributed to Laurent Delvaux (1696-1778) at the Rijksmuseum Collection [2]. Using 3D CT scanning, the study revealed age- and gender-related characteristics in fingerprint impressions found on the sculpture. These findings demonstrated the potential of combining forensic archaeology and technical imaging techniques to reveal new insights into the embodied labour behind sculptural production and social dynamics within workshops.
This interdisciplinary project builds on those findings by, for the first time, developing an automated method for fingerprint analysis on terracotta artworks. Combining digital image processing, computer vision, and machine learning with art historical and forensic expertise, the project seeks to retrieve and analyse traces of human touch embedded in these historical objects. A fully automated pipeline is being developed to detect, segment, and compare fingerprint marks, accelerating manual processes and enabling cross-comparisons at a scale not previously feasible. The tool is designed to support experts by analysing vast collections efficiently and helping to identify potential matches for further expert evaluation.
The project is a collaboration between the University of Twente, the Rijksmuseum, and the NFI, and brings together data scientists, art historians, curators, and forensic fingerprint examiners. The study focuses on the terracotta sculptures survived to day and attributed to Artus I Quellinus (1609-1688), whose workshop played a central role in shaping Dutch Baroque sculpture in the mid-17th century.
Using both high- and low-resolution imaging, fingerprint marks will be analysed for potential matches, aiming to reach a level of accuracy comparable to forensic fingerprint examiners. This project not only offers a scalable method for attribution but also a new lens for understanding the creative and collaborative process behind sculptural production.
As the first project to automate fingerprint mark analysis in terracotta artworks, it pioneers a novel integration of heritage science, machine learning, forensics, and art history. By tracing the physical touch of artists across centuries, this research redefines how we understand authorship, authenticity, and the human presence within the artwork itself.
Recent publications:
Dzemila Sero et al., Artist profiling using micro-CT scanning of a Rijksmuseum terracotta sculpture. Sci. Adv. 9,eadg6073 (2023). DOI:10.1126/sciadv.adg6073 Artist profiling using micro-CT scanning of a Rijksmuseum terracotta sculpture | Science Advances
Sero, D., van der Mark, B., Lubach, A. et al. Matching fingerprints on sculptures by the “Bernini of the North”. npj Herit. Sci. 14, 214 (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s40494-026-02490-y Matching fingerprints on sculptures by the “Bernini of the North” | npj Heritage Science
Judgment of Lucius Junius Brutus, BK-AM-51-21, (1650-1653), on loan from the City of Amsterdam
Day, BK-2012-62, (1658), Amsterdam Museum
Triton with a Crocodile and a Swan, BK-AM-51-1-J, (1650-1653), on loan from the City of Amsterdam.
References:
[1] Lloyd, Nancy. “Fingerprints.” Gaskell and Lie, Sketches in Clay 119 (1999): 24.
[2] Sero, Dzemila, et al. “The study of three-dimensional fingerprint recognition in cultural heritage: Trends and challenges.” Journal on Computing and Cultural Heritage (JOCCH) 14.4 (2021): 1-20.
Banner image: Judgment of Solomon, BK-M-51-22, (1650–1652), on loan from the City of Amsterdam.