15 years of image processing and the fine arts

Over the last 20 years, several efforts have been devoted to the application of image processing and digital imaging techniques to art research in a context of close collaboration between the Centre de Recherche et de Restauration des Muse´es de France (C2RMF) and the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Telecommunications (ENST). These efforts often found developments within National or European projects and were only made possible by the strong support of many partners throughout Europe. This set of projects and some of its results are presented, covering acquisition of information (from photos, or directly from paintings or objects), as well as storage management, database consulting, and image processing for pattern recognition and feature extraction