Photo: Daily Mail.
What was the facial structure of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756–1791)? Scientists who have been searching for the answer to this long-standing puzzle have reconstructed the appearance of the great composer, according to the Daily Mail.
Most of the surviving portraits of Mozart were drawn years after his death, while the images created during his lifetime differ significantly from one another.
According to forensic expert Cicero Moraes, while working on another project, he accidentally came across a skull that was said to belong to Mozart. Moraes and his team, who have conducted research on the facial structures of historical figures for over 10 years, seized the opportunity to start their work.
"The skull was well-preserved, except for the absence of the lower jaw and some teeth. The missing parts were reconstructed based on statistical data and anatomical compatibility," said Moraes.
The researchers began by virtually reconstructing the skull, then various techniques were used to fully restore the face. The nose, lips, ears, and other features were identified based on markers of soft tissue thickness and measurements of hundreds of European adults.
"We also adapted a virtual donor head to match Mozart's skull using anatomical deformation techniques. This allowed us to create a corresponding facial appearance," the expert added.
