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First of all, the National Geographical Institute made a photogrammetric
survey of the inside surface of Rotonda. The tolerance of the relief reproduction was
2,5 mm. Basing on that photography a company, specialized in producing scenery,
made a 26-sectional plywood frame. The sections were filled with expanded
polystyrene. Basing on the photogrammetry the surface of the polystyrene was
formed according the the microrelief of the Rotonda ceiling. Then the surface was
deposited by different materials, fireproof ones among them and pigments, mixed
with sand which gave it colour and texture. But the main problem - reproduction of
the wall paintings with the help of photos was not solved yet. "Kodak- Pateau"
company from Vecent undertook the work.
Keeping the technical details aloof, the main principle was the following. The
paintings were divided into 25 areas with edges, partially overlapping one another.
The areas were photographed life-size, each on a separate negative. Imprints of the
negative were processed to safely separate the photoemulsive layer from the paper
base. This film was than stuck on the relief surface of the walls with thorough
adjustment of the joints.
A copy of the Hall of the Bulls was exhibited in 1980 in Grand Palais - the
most prestige exhibition hall in Paris. The exhibition was a great success. To create
the atmosphere of a cave, an air conditioner kept the temperature of 13° inside the
model and a tape recorder reproduced a soft sound of water dropping from the
ceiling. Illumination was weak but enough to see the paintings. After the exhibition
the model was taken to the place of its constant keeping - to the National museum of
antiquities in the suburb of
Paris Saint Germen en Laye.
The technology, tested in "Rotunda", allowed to construct an exact copy of the
cave, called "Lascaux II", not far from the original. Lascaux II was opened for
public on the 18th of July 1983. There is always a queue here and a car- visitor can
hardly find a vacant place on a car parking .
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