The Art of Mosaics
The following examples of mosaics throughout history reveal how mosaics combine beauty with utility and form a lasting surface that tells a story.
Earliest Mosaics
The earliest known mosaics, created using pebbles as tesserae, date from the 8th century BCE. This pebble technique, used for both pavements and walls, was later greatly refined by Greek craftsmen during the 5th century. They were able to create intricate designs, using pebbles between one and two centimetres in diameter. Outlines were created with tiny black pebbles, and by the 4th century, coloured stones painted red and green were added for greater variety, helping Greek artists to produce complex geometric patterns as well as detailed scenes of people and animals.
The Romans took mosaic up to the Northern provinces of their empire. Later the form of art was frequently applied by the Christian community and was made into many religious images. Ravenna in Italy is famous for its mosaics.
The Romans took mosaic up to the Northern provinces of their empire. Later the form of art was frequently applied by the Christian community and was made into many religious images. Ravenna in Italy is famous for its mosaics.
Roman Mosaics
The Romans took the art of mosaics and refined it in order to allow the artist to create more intricate scenes. Most of these scenes were in the form of mosaic floor coverings. Roman mosaics have great historical significance not only for their great beauty but also for the light they shed on everyday Roman life. They speak of the small, regular events such as harvests and the passing of the seasons, but also tell us about the relative wealth of individuals and note the important historical characters such as Alexander the Great and his defeat of King Darius of Persia. Some of the greatest Roman heritage treasures were uncovered in Pompeii.
Byzantine Mosaics
Throughout history, mosaics have been used as a device to tell a story. This is especially true in depecting religious scenes and images found within churches through the world. One of the most ornate examples of the rich use of mosaics is seen in St. Mark's Basillica in Venice, Italy. Within this opulent cathedral, there are over 8000 meters of beautiful Byzantine mosaics containing gold, bronze and a wealthy variety of stones which are used to reflect Christian themes from the Bible.
Modern Mosaic Artists
Antoni Gaudí was a famous 19th century mosaic artist that utilized the modernistic art style in the form of mosaics. This can be seen most clearly in his work at the Park Güell in Barcelona.
Raymond Isidore (1900-1964), a graveyard sweeper by day, devoted 30 years in an effort to escape the monotony of his everyday existence, by creating The House of Picassiette. This home, whose name means 'the Picasso of plates,' is in Chartres, France Mosaics of broken glass and crockery adorn the building, its courtyards and interior, covering even the sewing machine and coffee grinder. Only the white sheets in the bedroom were left unadulterated.
Emma Biggs, (born 1956) is a london-based mosaic artist and author of a number of standard textbooks on contemporary mosaic practice. She founded the Mosaic Workshop, the largest mosaic studio in Britain, and produces private and public works around the world. Some of her most famous installations include Made in England, Five Sisters, London's Wharf Walk pavement mosaics, and Mosaic Rill .
Sonia King, (born 1953) is a mosaic artist, author and educator with studios in Dallas, Texas and San Francisco, California. She creates one-of-a-kind art mosaics for galleries, architectural, community and residential settings. King creates contemporary, abstract mosaic art with a complex variety of tesserae which are all cut by hand. Her pieces are famous for her ability to create homogeny without sacrificing the individuality of her materials.
