Output details

The Face of Richard III. (CGI 3D Model for archaeological research project. Also used in TV documentary "The King in the Car Park" Channel 4TV 4/02/2013, and exhibition tour including: "Reconstructing King Richard III" Guildhall, Leicester 18/5/2013-9/06/2014; British Museum, 11/01/2014-16/03/2014)

Wilkinson was approached for collaboration by Richard Buckley, University of Leicester to analyse CT data and photographs of the remains thought to be of Richard III, and produce 3d representations as CGI and a physical model of the facial reconstruction.

The remains were verified through DNA analysis after the depiction was finished, so the reconstruction was produced following anatomical standards without influence from existing historical portraits.

A CGI sequence was included in "The King in the Car Park", a TV program documenting the research project. and included interviews and footage of Wilkinson throughout, culminating in the reveal of the face of Richard III. The head is also the focus of a national tour of the UK, an authored paper in the Ricardian Bulletin, a book chapter and a Royal commission portrait. Following the UK tour the head will be permanently displayed in the Richard III exhibition Centre in Leicester.

This research produced a novel visualization of the face and is widely accepted as a scientifically accurate 3D portrayal. This depiction presented Richard III in a new and different light to the traditional monster-like depiction seen in the literature, and has been influential in humanising this infamous King.

This research received considerable interest from the international press and within 2 weeks of the release of the facial depiction there were over 64 million websites discussing the depiction of Richard III. The face appeared on the front cover of Newsweek and was shown on CNN, BBC News and many other news channels across the world. This research contributed significantly to public engagement with art/science and had a significant impact in relation to the public perception of Richard III. The author has been invited to speak at numerous UK public events in relation to this research.