Specialists at the Brukenthal National Museum in Sibiu presented on Tuesday, on the institution's Facebook page, the AI-assisted reconstruction of the portrait of Affra of Salzburg, the wife of 15th-century Sibiu mayor Thomas Altemberger, created after the discovery of a decorative metal piece from a coffin in the city's Evangelical Cathedral.

'Meet Affra of Salzburg (Altemberger)! Archaeological research in the Evangelical Parish Cathedral in Sibiu has brought to light a rare piece depicting the bust of a noblewoman with the inscription AFFRA - possibly referring to the wife of Thomas Altemberger, the same Altemberger who gave his name to the Altemberger House - the Sibiu History Museum. Today, the piece has entered the Brukenthal National Museum's heritage. Inspired by this discovery, our colleague Razvan Malanca created an AI rendering - an attempt to 'naturalize' Affra's portrait,' the museum's announcement said.

The Sibiu History Museum, part of the Brukenthal National Museum, is housed in the Altemberger House, named after its first owner, the former Saxon mayor.

The building was purchased in 1545 by the city magistracy and served as Sibiu's Town Hall for 400 years, until 1948. Its ten architectural units, together with the defense tower, form one of the most impressive ensembles of civil Gothic architecture in Romania and even in Southeastern Europe; the oldest part is the tower-residence, whose construction began at the end of the 13th century, according to the museum's website.

Thomas Altemberger, born in Sibiu into a family of medieval Saxon patricians, served as mayor of the city between 1471 and 1490, during the reign of King Matthias Corvinus. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Isabela Paulescu; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)