Microsoft has developed some probably interesting techniques for 3d reconstruction from 2d images. The BBC article has an interesting emphasis: “A virtual world that allows people to walk alongside the apostles or Christ himself has been created by researchers.” Granted the Christ reference appears to have come from one of the MS researchers, but why not “a virtual world that allows people to walk through Guernica or The Garden of Earthly Delights“? Construction of further interesting tours is left as an exercise for the reader.

On a more technical note, I wonder how well they do with forced perspective-style tricks in paintings (if I get any time to find pertinent links, I’ll link to them): stuff that looks right, but when examined closely indicates that the figure’s legs are drastically different sizes or similar chicanery.