A mosaic is a piece of art that is made of smaller pieces of a material to make a picture. These smaller pieces of material are usually reflective or iridescent to make the mosaic shine when the sunlight hits it. Roman mosaic art is one of the most famous art forms in the world. These pieces of art usually use the smaller pieces of material to create iconographic art depicting Christian religious scenes such as the Ascension of Elijah. They are tiles inlaid into a floor design or sectioned onto walls. Often, watering pitchers or decorative plates were inlaid with mosaic art but it was usually a wealthy man’s home or the churches that received the art.
Processes of Mosaic Tile Art
Mosaic art is created by using one of three methods; the direct method, the indirect method and the double-indirect method. During the ancient days of Rome, mosaic art was created in only the direct method. This process was long and arduous. It was done by the artist coming to the location where the art was to be housed. The artist would then proceed to build whatever story the owner desired, piece-by-piece, from hand, onto the spot designated.
The indirect method is where the mosaic tiles are placed face down onto an adhesive paper and then placed onto the desired space on the wall where a plaster is spread to hold the mosaic in place. The double-indirect method is where the pieces are placed on an adhesive paper face up so the artist can see the pattern or picture being made. Then, when the design is done, it is flipped over onto another adhesive paper face down. The paper on the back of the tiles is removed. Then the mosaic is placed in its desired place as it is in the indirect method.
Mosaic Art in the Roman Middle Ages
Roman mosaic art can be traced back to the 5th century, most notably the works found on the arch and nave at Saint Maria Maggiore. Even though this art form survived throughout the ages, the next greatest period in the prominence of mosaic art in Rome was the 12th and the 13th centuries and then again during the Renaissance. Between those two eras, the art of the Romans had taken an eastern traditional style, but during the second era, it took on a Roman tone again.
During this change in style of the Roman mosaic art, the portrayal of humans took on a more realistic approach. The realistic approach centered around perspective and practical backgrounds. Depictions of Christ and Mary sitting on a throne and of Christ’s coronation of Mary were some of the more famous iconographic mosaics of this time period. The largest known mosaic was the “Navicella” which was in the atrium of the old St. Peter’s basilica. When the officials renovated that church, most of the mosaic was destroyed.
A. L. Fetherlin - Author of "Brynn, the Exorcist" and former day care teacher who uses her home as an experiment in woodworking and building projects.
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