Detail of mosaic from Herculaneum depicting Amphitrite

A small part of The Great Pavement, a Roman mosaic laid in AD 325 at Woodchester, Gloucestershire, England. Herculaneum (in modern Italian Ercolano) is an ancient Roman town located in the territory of the current commune of Ercolano. In ancient Greek mythology, Amphitrite (Ἀμφιτρίτη (not to be confused with Aphrodite) was a sea-goddess

Cave canem mosaics ('Beware of the Dog') were a popular motif for the threshold of Roman villas. The Roman Empire was the post-Republican phase of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial

Mosaic is the art of creating images with small pieces of colored glass, stone or other material. Art refers to a diverse range of Human activities creations and expressions that are appealing to the Senses or Emotions of a human individual Glass in the common sense refers to a Hard, Brittle, transparent Solid, such as that used for Windows many It may be a technique of decorative art, an aspect of interior decoration or of cultural and spiritual significance as in a cathedral. The decorative arts are traditionally defined as ornamental and functional works in Ceramic, Wood, Glass, Metal, or Textile. Interior decoration or decor is the Art of decorating a room so that it is attractive easy to use and functions well with the existing Architecture This article is about the history and organisation of the cathedral Small tiles or fragments of pottery (known as tesserae, diminutive tessellae) or of colored glass or clear glass backed with metal foils are used to create a pattern or picture. A tile is a manufactured piece of hard-wearing material such as Ceramic, stone, metal or even Glass. Pottery is the Ceramic ware made by potters It also refers to a group of materials that includes Earthenware, Stoneware "Abaciscus" redirects here For the Geometer moth Genus, see Abaciscus (moth. Glass tiles are pieces of Glass formed into consistent shapes The M acro E xpansion T emplate A ttribute L anguage complements TAL, providing macros which allow the reuse of code across A pattern, from the French patron, is a theme of recurring events or objects sometimes referred to as elements of a set

Contents 1 History 1.1 Early Christian art 1.2 Ravenna 1.3 Byzantine mosaics 1.4 Medieval Rome 1.5 Sicily 1.6 Venice 1.7 Medieval Italy 1.8 Western and Central Europe 1.9 Renaissance and Baroque 1.10 Eastern Orthodox countries 1.11 Islamic art 1.12 Modern mosaics 2 Mosaic Terminology 3 Mosaic technique 3.1 Direct method 3.2 Indirect method 3.3 Double indirect method 4 Mathematics 5 Digital imaging 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 9 Other mosaic books 10 External links

History

Mosaics of the 4th century BC are found in the Macedonian palace-city of Aegae, and they enriched the floors of Hellenistic villas, and Roman dwellings from Britain to Dura-Europos. The 4th century BC started the first day of 400 BC and ended the last day of 301 BC. This article focuses on the cultural aspects of the Hellenistic age for the historical aspects see Hellenistic period. A villa was originally an Upper-class Country house, though since its origins in Roman times the idea and function of a villa has evolved considerably Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC Dura-Europos ("Fort Europos" was a Hellenistic, Parthian and Roman border City built on an Escarpment ninety meters above Splendid mosaic floors are found in Roman villas across north Africa. In Rome, Nero and his architects used mosaics to cover the surfaces of walls and ceilings in the Domus Aurea, built AD 64. The Domus Aurea ( Latin for "Golden House" was a large landscaped portico Villa, designed to take advantage of artificially created landscapes Year 64 was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Julian calendar.

The mosaics of the Villa Romana del Casale near Piazza Armerina in Sicily are the largest collection of late Roman mosaics in the world and are protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Villa Romana del Casale is a Roman villa located about 5km outside the town of Piazza Armerina, Sicily. Sicily ( Italian and Sicilian: Sicilia) is an autonomous region of Italy. United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization ( UNESCO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established on November 16 A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site (such as a Forest, Mountain, Lake, Desert, Monument, Building, complex The large villa rustica, which was probably owned by Emperor Maximian, was largely built in the early 4th century. Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus Herculius (c 250 &ndash c The mosaics were covered and protected by a landslide in the 12th century for 700 years. The most important pieces are the Circus Scene, the 64 m long Great Hunting Scene, the Little Hunt, the Labours of Hercules and the famous Bikini Girls, showing girls in modern-looking bikinis. The peristyle, the imperial apartements and the thermae were also decorated with ornamental and mythological mosaics. Other important examples of Roman mosaic art in Sicily were unearthed on the Piazza Vittoria in Palermo where two houses were discovered. Sicily ( Italian and Sicilian: Sicilia) is an autonomous region of Italy. Palermo ( Sicilian: Palermu, Greek: Panormus, al-Madinah during Muslim rule is a historic City in The most important scenes here depicted Orpheus, Alexander the Great's Hunt and the Four Seasons.

In 2000 archaeologists working in Leptis Magna, Libya uncovered a 30 ft length of five colorful mosaics created during the 1st or 2nd century. Leptis Magna,(لبدة also known as Lectis Magna (or Lepcis Magna as it is sometimes spelled also called Lpqy or Neapolis, was a prominent city Libya ( ليبيا ar-Latn Lībiyā; Libyan vernacular: Lībya; Amazigh:) officially the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab The mosaics show a warrior in combat with a deer, four young men wrestling a wild bull to the ground, and a gladiator resting in a state of fatigue, staring at his slain opponent. The mosaics decorated the walls of a cold plunge pool in a bath house within a Roman villa. The gladiator mosaic is noted by scholars as one of the finest examples of mosaic art ever seen — a "masterpiece comparable in quality with the Alexander mosaic in Pompeii. "

Early Christian art

With the building of Christian basilicas in the late 4th century, wall and ceiling mosaics were adapted to Christian uses. The Latin word basilica (derived from Greek, Basiliké Stoà, Royal Stoa) was originally used to describe a Roman As a means of recording the passage of Time, the 4th century (per the Julian calendar and Anno Domini / Common era) was that Century The earliest examples, such as those of the first basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul were all destroyed, but the mosaics of Santa Constanza and Santa Pudenziana, both from the 4th century, survived. Santa Costanza is a church in Rome, built under Emperor Constantine I and place of burial ( Mausoleum) of his daughters Constantina The Basilica of Santa Pudenziana is a 4th century church in Rome, dedicated to Saint Pudentiana, sister of Saint Praxedis The winemaking putti in the ambulatory of Santa Constanza still follow the classical tradition (ie. feast of Bacchus). In Classical mythology, Dionysus or Dionysos (in Greek, Διόνυσος or Διώνυσος; associated with Roman Another great Constantinian basilica, the Church of the Nativity in Betlehem partially preserved its original mosaic floor with typical Roman geometric motifs. Church_of_the_nativity_bethjpg|thumb|200px|View of The Church of the Nativity from Manger Square]]The Church of the Nativity ( كنيسة المهد) in Bethlehem Bethlehem ( بيت لحم,, lit "House of Meat" Βηθλεέμ Bethleém בית לחם Beit Lehem, lit "House of Bread" is a The so-called Tomb of the Julii, near the crypt beneath St Peter's Basilica, is a fourth-century vaulted tomb with wall and ceiling mosaics that are given Christian interpretations. The popularly-named "Tomb of the Julii" (Mausoleum "M" survives in the Necropolis beneath St The Basilica of Saint Peter (Basilica Sancti Petri officially known in Italian as the Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano and commonly known as St The former Tomb of Galerius in Thessaloniki, converted into a Christian church during the course of the 4th century, was embellished with very high artistic quality mosaics. The Arch of Galerius ( Modern Greek: τόξο του Γαλερίου or Aψίδα του Γαλερίου and the Tomb of Galerius Thessaloniki (Θεσσαλονίκη), Thessalonica, or Salonica is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of Macedonia Only fragments survived of the original decoration, especially a band depicting saints with hands raised in prayer, in front of complex architectural fantasies.

In the following century Ravenna, the capital of the Western Roman Empire, became the centre of late Roman mosaic art (see details in Ravenna section). Ravenna is a City and Comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. The Western Roman Empire refers to the western half of the Roman Empire, from its division by Diocletian in 285 the other half of the Roman Empire was the Eastern Milan also served as the capital of the western empire in the 4th century. Milan (Milano Milan (listen) is one of the largest cities in Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy. In the St Aquilinus Chapel of the Basilica of San Lorenzo mosaics executed in the late 4th-early 5th centuries, depict Christ with the Apostles and the Abduction of Elijah; these mosaics are outstanding for their bright colors, naturalism and adherence to the classical canons of order and proportion. "Saint Aquilinus" redirects here For other saints with this name see Aquilinus. The Basilica of Saint Lawrence ( Chiesa di San Lorenzo Maggiore) is a church in Milan, northern Italy, dedicated to the Christian Martyr Elijah or Elias ( was a Prophet in Israel in the 9th century BC

Albingaunum was the main Roman port of Liguria. Albenga is a city situated on the Gulf of Genoa on the Italian Riviera in the Province of Savona in Liguria, northern Italy. Liguria is a coastal region of north-western Italy, the third smallest of the Italian regions The octagonal baptistry of the town was decorated in the 5th century with high quality blue and white mosaics representing the Apostles. The surviving remains are fragmentary.

A mosaic pavement depicting humans, animals and plants from the original fourth-century cathedral of Aquileia have survived in the later medieval church. Aquileia (also called Aquilegia, Friulian Acuilee/Aquilee, Slovene Oglej) is an ancient Roman city in what is This mosaic adopts pagan motifs such as the Nilotic scene but behind the traditional naturalistic content is Christian symbolism (ichthys, fisherman). The sixth-century early Christian basilicas of Sant' Eufemia and Santa Maria delle Grazie in Grado also have mosaic floors. Grado ( Gravo in the local Venetian dialect Grau in Friulian, Gradež in Slovenian) is a town in the north-eastern Italian

Ravenna

In the 5th century Ravenna, the capital of the Western Roman Empire, became the centre of late Roman mosaic art. Ravenna is a City and Comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. The Western Roman Empire refers to the western half of the Roman Empire, from its division by Diocletian in 285 the other half of the Roman Empire was the Eastern The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia was decorated with mosaics of high artistic quality in 425-430. The Mausoleum of Galla Placidia is a highly important Roman mausoleum in Ravenna, Italy. The vaults of the small, cross-shaped structure are clad with mosaics on blue background. The central motif above the crossing is a golden cross in the middle of the stary sky. Another great building established by Galla Placidia was the Church of San Giovanni Evangelista. Aelia Galla Placidia (392 – November 27, 450) was the Empress consort of Constantius III, Western Roman Emperor. Church of San Giovanni Evangelista is a Venetian church reputed to have the True Cross. She erected it in fulfillment of a vow that she made having escaped from a deadly storm in 425 on the sea voyage from Constantinople to Ravenna. The mosaics depicted the storm, portraits of members of the western and eastern imperial family and the bishop of Ravenna, Peter Chrysologus. Saint Peter Chrysologus ( for "golden-worded") (c380&ndashc They are only known from Renaissance sources because they were destroyed in 1569.

Ostrogoths kept alive the tradition in the sixth century, as the mosaics of the Arian Baptistry, Baptistry of Neon, Archiepiscopal Chapel, and the earlier phase mosaics in the Basilica of San Vitale and Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo testify. The Ostrogoths (Ostrogothi or Austrogothi were a branch of the Goths, an East Germanic tribe that played a major role in the political events of the late The Arian Baptistry in Ravenna, Italy was erected by Ostrogothic King Theodoric the Great between the end of the 5th century and the beginning The Baptistry of Neon (in Italian Battistero Neoniano) in Ravenna, Italy is the most ancient monument remaining in Ravenna and was partly erected on the Archiepiscopal Chapel is a Chapel on the first floor of the bishops' palace in Ravenna, Italy. The Church or Basilica of San Vitale — styled an " ecclesiastical basilica " in the Roman Catholic Church though it is not of architectural basilica The Basilica of Sant' Apollinare Nuovo is a church in Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna ( Italy)

After 539 Ravenna was conquered by the Byzantine Empire and became the seat of the Exarchate of Ravenna. The Exarchate of Ravenna or of Italy was a centre of Byzantine power in Italy, from the end of the 6th century to 751, when the The greatest development of Christian mosaics unfolded in the second half of the 6th century. Outstanding examples of Byzantine mosaic art are the later phase mosaics in the Basilica of San Vitale and Basilica of Sant'Apollinare Nuovo. The Church or Basilica of San Vitale — styled an " ecclesiastical basilica " in the Roman Catholic Church though it is not of architectural basilica The Basilica of Sant' Apollinare Nuovo is a church in Ravenna, Emilia-Romagna ( Italy) The mosaic depicting Emperor Justinian I and Empress Theodora in the Basilica of San Vitale were executed shortly after the Byzantine conquest. Flavius Petrus Sabbatius Iustinianus ( Greek: Φλάβιος Πέτρος Σαββάτιος Ιουστινιανός; known in English as Justinian I or Theodora ( Greek: Θεοδώρα (c 500 - June 28 548) was empress of the Byzantine Empire and the wife of Emperor Justinian The mosaics of the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe were made around 549. The Basilica of Sant' Apollinare in Classe is an important monument of Byzantine art in Ravenna, Italy. The anti-Arian theme is obvious in the apse mosaic of San Michele in Affricisco, executed in 545-547 (largely destroyed, the remains in Berlin). Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany.

The last example of Byzantine mosaics in Ravenna was commissioned by bishop Reparatus between 673-79 in the Basilica of Sant'Apollinare in Classe. The Basilica of Sant' Apollinare in Classe is an important monument of Byzantine art in Ravenna, Italy. The mosaic panel in the apse showing the bishop with Emperor Constantine IV is obviously an imitation of the Justinian panel in San Vitale. Constantine IV ( Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Δ' Kōnstantinos IV) (652&ndash685 sometimes incorrectly called Pogonatos, "the Bearded"

Byzantine mosaics

Mosaics were more central to Byzantine culture than to that of Western Europe. Byzantine church interiors were generally covered with golden mosaics. Mosaic art flourished in the Byzantine Empire from the 6th to the 15th century. The majority of Byzantine mosaics were destroyed without trace during wars and conquests, but the surviving remains still form a fine collection.

The buildings of Emperor Justinian like the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople and the Nea Church in Jerusalem were certainly embellished with mosaics but none of these survived. Flavius Petrus Sabbatius Iustinianus ( Greek: Φλάβιος Πέτρος Σαββάτιος Ιουστινιανός; known in English as Justinian I or Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya Αγία Σοφία " Holy Wisdom " Sancta Sophia or Sancta Sapientia) is a former patriarchal Basilica, later Constantinople (Κωνσταντινούπολις Konstantinoúpolis, or gr ἡ Πόλις hē Polis, Latin: la CONSTANTINOPOLIS Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, he-Latn Yerushaláyim; Arabic: ar القُدس, ar-Latn al-Quds) is the Probably the earliest example of Byzantine mosaic art can be found in the Saint Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai. Saint Catherine's Monastery ( Greek:) on the Sinai Peninsula, at the mouth of an inaccessible gorge at the foot of Mount Sinai in Egypt is one For other places named Mount Sinai see Mount Sinai (disambiguation Mount Sinai (Arabic طور سيناء, Hebrew הר סיני also On the upper wall Moses is shown in two panels on a landscape background. Moses ( Latin: Moyses,; Greek: grc Mωυσής in both the Septuagint and the New Testament; Arabic: ar موسىٰ In the apse we can see the Transfiguration of Jesus on a golden background. The Transfiguration of Jesus is an event reported by the Synoptic Gospels in which Jesus is transfigured upon a mountain (,) The apse is surrounded with bands containing medallions of apostles and prophets, and two contemporary figure, "Abbot Longinos" and "John the Deacon". The mosaic was probably created in 565/6.

Important fragments survived from the mosaic floor of the Great Palace of Constantinople which was commissioned during Justinian's reign. The Byzantine Great Palace of Constantinople, (Μέγα Παλάτιον Turkish: Büyük Saray also known as the Sacred Palace ( Latin The figures, animals, plants all are entirely classical but they are scattered before a plain background. The portrait of a moustached man, probably a Gothic chieftain, is considered the most important surviving mosaic of the Justinian age. The so-called small sekreton of the palace was built during Justin II's reign around 565-577. Flavius Iustinus (Iunior Augustus (c 520 - 578 was Eastern Roman emperor from 565 to 578 Some fragments survive from the mosaics of this vaulted room. The vine scroll motifs are very similar to those in the Santa Constanza and they still closely follow the Classical tradition. There are remains of floral decoration in the Panayia Acheiropoietos Church in Thessaloniki (5-6th centuries). Thessaloniki (Θεσσαλονίκη), Thessalonica, or Salonica is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of Macedonia

In the 6th century, Ravenna, the capital of Byzantine Italy, became the centre of mosaic making. Ravenna is a City and Comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. Istria also boasts some important examples from this era. This article is about a geographical region bordering the Adriatic Sea The Euphrasian Basilica in Parentium was built in the middle of the 6th century and decorated with mosaics depicting the Theotokos flanked by angels and saints. The Euphrasian Basilica (Eufrazijeva bazilika Basilica Eufrasiana is a Basilica in Poreč, Croatia. Poreč ( Italian: Parenzo; Latin: Parens or Parentium; archaic German: Parenz; Ancient Greek: Theotokos (Θεοτόκος translit Theotókos) is a title of Mary the mother of Jesus used especially in the Eastern Orthodox,

Fragments remain from the mosaics of the Church of Santa Maria Formosa in Pola. Pula (Pietas Iulia Pulj Istriot Pula; Pola is the largest city in Istria County, Croatia, situated at the southern tip of the Istria These pieces were made during the 6th century by artists from Constantinople. Constantinople (Κωνσταντινούπολις Konstantinoúpolis, or gr ἡ Πόλις hē Polis, Latin: la CONSTANTINOPOLIS Their pure Byzantine style is different than the contemporary Ravennate mosaics.

Very few early Byzantine mosaics survived the Iconoclastic destruction of the 8th century. Iconoclasm, Greek for "image-breaking" is the deliberate destruction within a culture of the culture's own religious Icons and other symbols or monuments Among the rare examples are the 6th century Christ in majesty (or Ezekiel's Vision) mosaic in the apse of the Osios David Church in Thessaloniki that was hidden behind mortar during those dangerous times. Thessaloniki (Θεσσαλονίκη), Thessalonica, or Salonica is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of Macedonia The mosaics of the Hagios Demetrios Church, which were made between 634 and 730, also escaped destruction. The Church of Saint Demetrius, or Hagios Demetrios (Άγιος Δημήτριος is the main sanctuary dedicated to Saint Demetrius, the patron saint of Unusually almost all represent Saint Demetrius of Thessaloniki, often with suppliants before him. Saint Demetrius redirects here For another saint see Demetrius of Alexandria.

In the Iconoclastic era, figural mosaics were also condemned as idolatry. Iconoclasm, Greek for "image-breaking" is the deliberate destruction within a culture of the culture's own religious Icons and other symbols or monuments The Iconoclastic churches were embellished with plain gold mosaics with only one great cross in the apse like the Hagia Irene in Constantinople (after 740). Hagia Irene or Hagia Eirene ( Greek: Αγία Ειρήνη "Holy Peace" Turkish: Aya İrini) is a former Eastern Orthodox Constantinople (Κωνσταντινούπολις Konstantinoúpolis, or gr ἡ Πόλις hē Polis, Latin: la CONSTANTINOPOLIS There were similar crosses in the apses of the Hagia Sophia Church in Thessaloniki and in the Church of the Dormition in Nicaea. The Hagia Sophia ( Greek: Ἁγία Σοφία Holy Wisdom) in Thessaloniki, Greece, is one of the oldest churches in that city still standing Thessaloniki (Θεσσαλονίκη), Thessalonica, or Salonica is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of Macedonia The crosses were substituted with the image of the Theotokos in both churches after the victory of the Iconodules (787-797 and in 8-9th centuries respectively, the Dormition church was totally destroyed in 1922). Theotokos (Θεοτόκος translit Theotókos) is a title of Mary the mother of Jesus used especially in the Eastern Orthodox, An iconodule (Greek eikono-doulos "One who serves images" also Iconodulist or Iconophile) is someone who espouses iconodulism, i

A similar Theotokos image flanked by two archangels were made for the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople in 867. Theotokos (Θεοτόκος translit Theotókos) is a title of Mary the mother of Jesus used especially in the Eastern Orthodox, Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya Αγία Σοφία " Holy Wisdom " Sancta Sophia or Sancta Sapientia) is a former patriarchal Basilica, later Constantinople (Κωνσταντινούπολις Konstantinoúpolis, or gr ἡ Πόλις hē Polis, Latin: la CONSTANTINOPOLIS The dedication inscription says: "The images which the impostors had cast down here pious emperors have again set up. " In the 870s the so-called large sekreton of the Great Palace of Constantinople was decorated with the images of the four great iconodule patriarchs. The Byzantine Great Palace of Constantinople, (Μέγα Παλάτιον Turkish: Büyük Saray also known as the Sacred Palace ( Latin

The post-Iconoclastic era was the heyday of Byzantine art with the most beautiful mosaics executed. The mosaics of the Macedonian Renaissance (867-1056) carefully mingled traditionalism with innovation. Macedonian Renaissance is a label sometimes used to describe the period of the Macedonian dynasty of the Byzantine Empire (867-1056 especially the 10th century Constantinopolitan mosaics of this age followed the decoration scheme first used in Emperor Basil I's Nea Church. For the Russian ruler see Basil I of Russia Basil I, called the Macedonian ( Greek: Βασίλειος Α΄ο Μακεδών Not only this prototype was later totally destroyed but each surviving composition is battered so it is necessary to move from church to church to reconstruct the system.

An interesting set of Macedonian-era mosaics make up the decoration of the Hosios Loukas Monastery. Hosios Loukas (Greek) is an historic walled monastery situated near the town of Distomo, in Boeotia, Greece. In the narthex there is the Crucifixion, the Pantokrator and the Anastasis above the doors, while in the church the Theotokos (apse), Pentecost, scenes from Christ's life and ermit St Loukas (all executed before 1048). The scenes are treated with a minimum of detail and the panels are dominated with the gold setting.

The Nea Moni Monastery on Chios was established by Constantine Monomachos in 1043-1056. Nea Moni (Νέα Μονή lit "New Monastery" is an 11th century monastery on the island of Chios that has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Chios (Χίος pronounced ˈçio̞s alternative transliterations Khíos and Híos) is the fifth largest of the Greek islands, situated Constantine IX Monomachos ( Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Θ΄ Μονομάχος Kōnstantinos IX Monomakhos) c The exceptional mosaic decoration of the dome showing probably the nine orders of the angels was destroyed in 1822 but other panels survived (Theotokos with raised hands, four evangelists with seraphim, scenes from Christ's life and an interesting Anastasis where King Salomon bears resemblance to Constantine Monomachos). In comparison with Osios Loukas Nea Moni mosaics contain more figures, detail, landscape and setting.

The Daphni Monastery houses the best preserved complex of mosaics from the early Comnenan period (ca. Dafni or Daphni (Greek Δαφνί before the spelling change Dafnion Δάφνιον or Daphnion) is a monastery 11 km north-west of downtown 1100) when the austere and hieratic manner typical for the Macedonian epoch and represented by the awesome Christ Pantocrator image inside the dome, was metamorphosing into a more intimate and delicate style, of which The Angel before St Joachim — with its pastoral backdrop, harmonious gestures and pensive lyricism — is considered a superb example. The following is a list of emperors of the Byzantine Empire belonging to the Macedonian dynasty (also known as the Armenian Dynasty) of Armenian Meaning The most common translation of Pantocrator is "Almighty" or "All-powerful

The 9th and 10th century mosaics of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople are truly classical Byzantine artworks. Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya Αγία Σοφία " Holy Wisdom " Sancta Sophia or Sancta Sapientia) is a former patriarchal Basilica, later Constantinople (Κωνσταντινούπολις Konstantinoúpolis, or gr ἡ Πόλις hē Polis, Latin: la CONSTANTINOPOLIS The north and south tympana beneath the dome was decorated with figures of prophets, saints and patriarchs. Above the principal door from the narthex we can see an Emperor kneeling before Christ (late 9th or early 10th century). Above the door from the soutwest vestibule to the narthex another mosaic shows the Theotokos with Iustinian and Constantine. Iustinian is offering the model of the church to Mary while Constantine is helding the model of the city in his hand. Flavius Petrus Sabbatius Iustinianus ( Greek: Φλάβιος Πέτρος Σαββάτιος Ιουστινιανός; known in English as Justinian I or Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus (27 February ca. 272 &ndash 22 May 337 commonly known as Constantine I, Constantine the Great, or Saint Constantine Both emperors are beardless - this is an example for conscious archaization as contemporary Byzantine rulers were bearded. A mosaic panel on the gallery shows Christ with Constantine Monomachos and Empress Zoe (1042-1055). Constantine IX Monomachos ( Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Θ΄ Μονομάχος Kōnstantinos IX Monomakhos) c Zoe (in Greek: Ζωή Zōē, meaning "Life" (c 978&ndashJune 1050 was Empress of the Byzantine Empire with co-rulers November The emperor gives a bulging money sack to Christ offering a donation for the church.

The dome of the Hagia Sophia Church in Thessaloniki is decorated with an Ascension mosaic (c. The Hagia Sophia ( Greek: Ἁγία Σοφία Holy Wisdom) in Thessaloniki, Greece, is one of the oldest churches in that city still standing Thessaloniki (Θεσσαλονίκη), Thessalonica, or Salonica is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of Macedonia 885). The composition resembles the great baptistries in Ravenna, with apostles standing between palms and Christ in the middle. Ravenna is a City and Comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy. The scheme is somewhat unusual as the standard post-Iconoclastic formula for domes contained only the image of the Pantokrator.

There are very few existing mosaics from the Komnenian period but this paucity must be due to accidents of survival and gives a misleading impression. The only surviving 12th century mosaic work in Constantinople is a panel in Hagia Sophia depicting Emperor John II and Empress Eirene with the Theotokos (1122-34). Constantinople (Κωνσταντινούπολις Konstantinoúpolis, or gr ἡ Πόλις hē Polis, Latin: la CONSTANTINOPOLIS Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya Αγία Σοφία " Holy Wisdom " Sancta Sophia or Sancta Sapientia) is a former patriarchal Basilica, later John II Komnenos or Comnenus ( Iōannēs II Komnēnos) ( September 13, 1087 &ndash April 8, 1143) was Byzantine Piroska of Hungary (1088 – 13 August, 1134) was a daughter of Ladislaus I of Hungary and Adelaide of Swabia. Theotokos (Θεοτόκος translit Theotókos) is a title of Mary the mother of Jesus used especially in the Eastern Orthodox, The empress with her long braided hair and rosy cheeks is especially capturing. It must be a life-like portrayal because Eirene was really a redhead as her original Hungarian name, Piroska shows. The adjacent portrait of Emperor Alexios I Komnenos on a pier (from 1122) is similarly personal. Alexios I Komnenos, or Comnenus (Greek Αλέξιος Α' Κομνηνός (1048 &ndash August 15, 1118) Byzantine emperor (1081&ndash1118 The imperial mausoleum of the Komnenos dynasty, the Pantokrator Monastery was certainly decorated with great mosaics but these were later destroyed. Zeyrek Mosque (full name in Turkish: Molla Zeyrek Camii) is a Mosque in Istanbul, made of two former Eastern Orthodox churches and The lack of Komnenian mosaics outside the capital is even more apparent. There is only a "Communion of the Apostles" in the apse of the cathedral of Serres. Sérres or Sérrhae ( Greek: Σέρρες older form Σέρραι is a city in Macedonia, Greece.

A striking technical innovation of the Komnenian period was the production of very precious, miniature mosaic icons. In these icons the small tesserae (with sides of 1 mm or less) were set on wax or resin on a wooden panel. These products of extraordinary craftmanship were intended for private devotion. The Louvre Transfiguration is a very fine example from the late 12th century. The miniature mosaic of Christ in the Museo Nazionale at Florence illustrates the more gentle, humanistic conception of Christ which appeared in the 12th century. Florence ( Italian: Firenze Florentia and Fiorenza) is the Capital City of the Italian region of Tuscany

The sack of Constantinople in 1204 caused the decline of mosaic art for the next five decades. After the reconquest of the city by Michael VIII Palaiologos in 1261 the Hagia Sophia was restored and a beautiful new Deesis was made on the south galery. Michael VIII Palaiologos or Palaeologus ( Greek: Μιχαήλ Η΄ Παλαιολόγος Mikhaēl VIII Palaiologos) (1223 &ndash December 11 In Byzantine art, and later Eastern Orthodox art generally the Deësis or Deisis (δέησις "prayer" or "supplication" is a This huge mosaic panel with figures two and a half times lifesize is really overwhelming due to its grand scale and superlative craftmanship. The Hagia Sophia Deesis is probably the most famous Byzantine mosaic in Constantinople.

The Pammakaristos Monastery was restored by Michael Glabas, an imperial official, in the late 13th century. Pammakaristos Church, also known as the Church of Theotokos Pammakaristos ( Joyous Mother of God) later known as Fethiye Mosque (Fethiye Camii Only the mosaic decoration of small burial chapel (Parekklesion) of Glabas survived. This domed chapel was built by his widow, Martha around 1304-08. In the miniature dome the traditional Pantokrator can be seen with twelve prophets beneath. Unusually the apse is decorated with a Deesis, probably due to the funerary function of the chapel. In Byzantine art, and later Eastern Orthodox art generally the Deësis or Deisis (δέησις "prayer" or "supplication" is a

The Church of the Holy Apostles in Thessaloniki was built in 1310-14. Thessaloniki (Θεσσαλονίκη), Thessalonica, or Salonica is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of Macedonia Although some vandal systematically removed the gold tesserae of the background it can be seen that the Pantokrator and the prophets in the dome follow the traditional Byzantine pattern. Many details are similar to the Pammakaristos mosaics so it is supposed that the same team of mosaicists worked in both buildings. Another building with a related mosaic decoration is the Theotokos Paregoritissa Church in Arta. Arta (Άρτα is a city with a rich history in north-western Greece, capital of the Arta Prefecture which is part of the Epirus province The church was established by the Despot of Epirus in 1294-96. Epirus (from Ionic Greek Ήπειρος - Ēpeiros, Doric Greek: Ἅπειρος - Apeiros, in Albanian In the dome is the traditional stern Pantokrator, with prophets and cherubim below.

The greatest mosaic work of the Palaiologian Renessaince is the decoration of the Chora Church in Constantinople. The Chora Church ( Turkish Kariye Müzesi, Kariye Camii, or Kariye Kilisesi — the Chora Museum Mosque or Church) is considered to Constantinople (Κωνσταντινούπολις Konstantinoúpolis, or gr ἡ Πόλις hē Polis, Latin: la CONSTANTINOPOLIS Although the mosaics of the naos have not survived except three panels, the decoration of the exonarthex and the esonarthex constitute the most important full-scale mosaic cycle in Constantinople after the Hagia Sophia. They were executed around 1320 by the command of Theodore Metochites. Theodoros Metochites (1270–1332 was a Byzantine statesman author gentleman philosopher and patron of the arts The esonarthex has two fluted domes, specially created to provide the ideal setting for the mosaic images of the ancestors of Christ. The southern one is called the Dome of the Pantokrator while the northern one is the Dome of the Theotokos. The most important panel of the esonarthex depicts Theodor Metochites wearing a huge turban, offering the model of the church to Christ. The turban (from Persian fa دلبند or دولبند dulband via the Turkish tr tülbent) is a headdress consisting of a long The walls of both narthexes are decorated with mosaic cycles from the life of the Virgin and the life of Christ. These panels show the influence of the Italian trecento on Byzantine art especially the more natural settings, landscapes, figures. The Trecento (Italian for 300 or from "mille trecento" 1300 refers to the 14th century in Italian cultural history

The last Byzantine mosaic work was created for the Hagia Sophia, Constantinople in the middle of the 14th century. Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya Αγία Σοφία " Holy Wisdom " Sancta Sophia or Sancta Sapientia) is a former patriarchal Basilica, later Constantinople (Κωνσταντινούπολις Konstantinoúpolis, or gr ἡ Πόλις hē Polis, Latin: la CONSTANTINOPOLIS The great eastern arch of the cathedral collapsed in 1346, bringing down the third of the main dome. By 1355 not only the big Pantokrator image was restored but new mosaics were set on the eastern arch depicting the Theotokos, the Baptist and Emperor John V Palaiologos (discovered only in 1989). John V Palaiologos or Palaeologus ( Ιωάννης Ε' Παλαιολόγος, Iōannēs V Palaiologos) ( 18 June, 1332 &ndash

In addition to the large-scale monuments several miniature mosaic icons of outstanding quality was produced for the Palaiologos court and nobles. The loveliest examples from the 14th century are Annunciation in the Victoria and Albert Museum and a mosaic diptych in the Cathedral Treasury of Florence representing the Twelve Feasts of the Church. The Victoria and Albert Museum (often abbreviated as the V&A) in London is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design housing a permanent collection Florence ( Italian: Firenze Florentia and Fiorenza) is the Capital City of the Italian region of Tuscany

In the troubled years of the 15th century the fatally weakened empire could not afford luxurious mosaics. Churches were decorated with wall-paintings in this era and after the Turkish conquest.

Medieval Rome

Christian mosaic art also flourished in Late Antique and medieval Rome. Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 Fifth century mosaics can be found over the triumphal arch and in the nave of the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore (its Italian name known in English also as St Mary Major, is an ancient Catholic Basilica of Rome The 27 surviving panels of the nave are the most important mosaic cycle in Rome of this period. Two other important 5th century mosaics are lost but we know them from 17th century drawings. In the apse mosaic of Sant'Agata dei Goti (462-472, destroyed in 1589) Christ was seated on a globe with the twelve Apostles flanking him, six on either side. Sant'Agata dei Goti is a church in Rome dedicated to the martyr Saint Agatha. At Sant'Andrea in Catabarbara (468-483, destroyed in 1686) Christ appeared in the center, flanked on either side by three Apostles. Four streams flowed from the little mountain supporting Christ. The original 5th century apse mosaic of the Santa Sabina was replaced by a very similar fresco by Taddeo Zuccari in 1559. Santa Sabina all'Aventino is a Basilica in Rome, the center of the Dominican order. Taddeo Zuccaro or Zuccari ( September 1 1529 - September 2 1566) was an Italian painter one of the most popular members of the The composition probably remained unchanged: Christ flanked by male and female saints, seated on a hill while lambs drinking from a stream at its feet. All three mosaics had a similar iconography.

6th century pieces are rare in Rome but the mosaics inside the triumphal arch of the basilica of San Lorenzo fuori le mura. The Basilica of San Lorenzo fuori le Mura &mdash also known in the English language as Saint Lawrence outside the Walls &mdash is one of the most important The Chapel of Ss. Primo e Feliciano in Santo Stefano Rotondo has very interesting and rare mosaics from the 7th century. Santo Stefano Rotondo, also known as Santo Stefano al Monte Celio, is an ancient Basilica church in Rome. This chapel was built by Pope Theodore I as a family burial place. Pope Theodore I (d May 14, 649) who was Pope November 24, 642 - May 14 649, is considered a Greek

In the 7-9th centuries Rome fell under the influence of Byzantine art, noticeable on the mosaics of Santa Prassede, Santa Maria in Domnica, Sant'Agnese fuori le Mura, Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, Santi Nereo e Achilleo and the San Venanzio chapel of San Giovanni in Laterano. Santa Prassede is a Basilica in Rome, located near the major basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. Santa Maria in Domnica — also known as Santa Maria alla Navicella — is a Basilica church in Rome. Sant'Agnese fuori le mura ("Saint Agnes Outside the Walls" is a basilica church in Rome, in which Saint Agnes 's bones are reputed to rest Santa Cecilia in Trastevere is a 5th century church of Rome, located in the Trastevere rione and devoted to Saint Cecilia Santi Nereo e Achilleo is a 4th century Basilica church in Rome. The Basilica of St John Lateran ( Italian: Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano) is the Cathedral of the church of Rome and the official The great dining hall of Pope Leo III in the Lateran Palace was also decorated with mosaics. Pope Leo III (died June 12, 816) was Pope from 795 to 816 Protected by Charlemagne from his enemies in Rome he subsequently strengthened The Lateran Palace, sometimes more formally known as the Apostolic Palace of the Lateran (Italian Palazzo Laterano) is an ancient Palace of the Roman They were all destroyed later except for one example, the so-called Triclinio Leoniano of which a copy was made in the 18th century. Another great work of Pope Leo, the apse mosaic of Santa Susanna, depicted Christ with the Pope and Charlemagne on one side, and SS. Santa Susanna (Italian - Chiesa di Santa Susanna alle Terme di Diocleziano) is a church on the Quirinal in Rome, with a Titulus at its site that Charlemagne (ˈʃɑrlɨmeɪn Carolus Magnus or Karolus Magnus meaning Charles the Great) (747 – 28 January 814 was King of the Franks from 768 to his Susanna and Felicity on the other. It was plastered over during a renovation in 1585.

The fragment of an eighth-century mosaic, the Epiphany is one of the very rare remaining pieces of the medieval decoration of Old St. Peter's Basilica, demolished in the late 16th century. Epiphany ( Greek for "to manifest" or "to show" is a Christian Feast day which celebrates the "shining forth" or revelation of Old Saint Peter's Basilica was the building that once stood on the spot where the Basilica of Saint Peter stands today in Rome. The precious fragment is kept in the sacristy of Santa Maria in Cosmedin. Santa Maria in Cosmedin (or de Schola Graeca) is a Basilica church in Rome. It proves the high artistic quality of the destroyed St. Peter's mosaics.

The last great period of Roman mosaic art was the 12-13th century when Rome developed its own distinctive artistic style, free from the strict rules of eastern tradition and with a more realistic portrayal of figures in the space. Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2 Well-known works of this period are the floral mosaics of the Basilica di San Clemente, the façade of Santa Maria in Trastevere and San Paolo fuori le Mura. The Basilica of Saint Clement ( Basilica di San Clemente in Italian) Rome is a twelfth century Roman Catholic Basilica dedicated The Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere is one of the oldest churches in Rome, perhaps the first in which mass was openly celebrated The Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls or St Paul-without-the-Walls (Basilica di San Paolo fuori le Mura is one of four churches considered to be the great The beautiful apse mosaic of Santa Maria in Trastevere (1140) depicts Christ and Mary sitting next to each other on the heavenly throne, the first example of this iconographic scheme. A similar mosaic, Christ coronating Mary, decorates the apse of Santa Maria Maggiore. The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore (its Italian name known in English also as St Mary Major, is an ancient Catholic Basilica of Rome It is a work of Jacopo Torriti from 1295. Jacopo Torriti or Turriti was an Italian painter and mosaic maker who lived in the 13th century The mosaics of Torriti and Jacopo da Camerino in the apse of San Giovanni in Laterano from 1288-94 were thoroughly restored in 1884. Jacopo da Camerino was an Italian artist and a Franciscan monk who assisted Torrita with the Mosaics for the church of San Giovanni in Laterano The Basilica of St John Lateran ( Italian: Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano) is the Cathedral of the church of Rome and the official The apse mosaic of San Crisogono is attributed to Pietro Cavallini, the greatest Roman painter of the 13th century. San Crisogono is a church in Rome (rione Trastevere) dedicated to the martyr Saint Chrysogonus. Pietro Cavallini (c 1250 &ndash c 1330 was an Italian painter and Mosaic designer working during the late Middle Ages. Six scenes from the life of Mary in Santa Maria in Trastevere were also executed by Cavallini in 1290. These mosaics are praised for their realistic portrayal and attempts of perspective. There is an interesting mosaic medaillon from 1210 above the gate of the church of San Tommaso in Formis showing Christ enthroned between a white and a black slave. The church belonged to the Order of the Trinitarians which was devoted to ransoming Christian slaves. The Order of the Holy Trinity (or Trinitarians) is a Catholic Religious order that was founded in the area of Cerfroid, some 80 km northeast

The great Navicella mosaic (1305-1313) in the atrium of the Old St. Peter's is attributed to Giotto di Bondone. The giant mosaic, commissioned by Cardinal Jacopo Stefaneschi, was originally situated on the eastern porch of the old basilica and occupied the whole wall above the entrance arcade facing the courtyard. Giacomo Gaetani Stefaneschi (c 1270 &ndash 23 June 1343) was an Italian Cardinal deacon. It depicted St. Peter walking on the waters. This extraordinary work was mainly destroyed during the construction of the new St. Peter's in the 17th century. Navicella means "little ship" referring to the large boat which dominated the scene, and whose sail, filled by the storm, loomed over the horizon. Such a natural representation of a seascape was known only from ancient works of art.

Sicily

The heyday of mosaic making in Sicily was the age of the independent Norman kingdom in the 12th century. Sicily ( Italian and Sicilian: Sicilia) is an autonomous region of Italy. The Normans were the people who gave their names to Normandy, a region in northern France. The Norman kings adopted the Byzantine tradition of mosaic decoration to enhance the somewhat dubious legality of their rule. Greek masters working in Sicily developed their own style, that shows the influence of Western European and Islamic artistic tendencies. Best examples of Sicilian mosaic art are the Cappella Palatina of Roger II, the Martorana church in Palermo and the cathedrals of Cefalù and Monreale. The Palatine Chapel (Cappella Palatina is the royal Chapel of the Norman kings of Sicily situated on the ground floor at the center of the Palazzo Roger II ( 22 December 1095 &ndash 26 February 1154) was King of Sicily, son of Roger I of Sicily and successor to his La Martorana, also known as Santa Maria dell'Ammiraglio ( Saint Mary of the Admiral) is a church in Palermo ( Sicily, Italy) Palermo ( Sicilian: Palermu, Greek: Panormus, al-Madinah during Muslim rule is a historic City in The Cathedral-Basilica of Cefalù, (Duomo di Cefalù is a Roman Catholic church in Cefalù, Sicily, southern Italy. Monreale ( Sicilian: Murriali) is a town and Comune in the Province of Palermo, in Sicily, Italy,

The Cappella Palatina clearly shows evidence for blending the eastern and western styles. The dome (1142-42) and the eastern end of the church (1143-1154) were decorated with typical Byzantine mosaics ie. Pantokrator, angels, scenes from the life of Christ. Even the inscriptions are written in Greek. The narrative scenes of the nave (Old Testament, life of Sts Peter and Paul) are resembling to the mosaics of the Old St. Peter's and St. Paul's Basilica in Rome (Latin inscriptions, 1154-66). Rome ( Roma ˈroma Roma is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city with more than 2

The Martorana church (decorated around 1143) looked originally even more Byzantine although important parts were later demolished. The dome mosaic is very similar to that of the Cappella Palatina with Christ enthroned in the middle and four bowed, elongated angels. The Greek incsriptions, decorative patterns, the evangelists in the squinches are obviously executed by the same Greek masters who worked on Capella Palatina. The mosaic depicting Roger II of Sicily, dressed in Byzantine imperial robes, receiving the crown by Christ was originally in the demolished narthex together with another panel, the Theotokos with Georgios of Antiochia, the founder of the church.

In Cefalù (1148) only the high, French Gothic presbytery was covered with mosaics: the Pantokrator on the semidome of the apse and cherubim on the vault. Cefalù ( Sicilian: Cifalù, Greek:, Diod, Strabo, or, Ptol; Latin: Cephaloedium, or Cephaloedis On the walls we can see Latin and Greek saints, with Greek inscriptions.

The Monreale mosaics constitute the largest decoration of this kind in Italy, covering 0,75 hectares with at least 100 million glass and stone tesserae. Monreale ( Sicilian: Murriali) is a town and Comune in the Province of Palermo, in Sicily, Italy, This huge work was executed between 1176 and 1186 by the order of King William II of Sicily. William II (French language Guillaume II, 1155 &ndash November 11 1189 Palermo) called the Good, was king of Sicily The iconography of the mosaics in the presbytery is similar to Cefalu while the pictures in the nave are almost the same as the narrative scenes in the Cappella Palatina. The Martorana mosaic of Roger II blessed by Christ was repeated with the figure of King William II instead of his predecessor. Another panel shows the king offering the model of the cathedral to the Theotokos.

The Cathedral of Palermo, rebuilt by Archbishop Walter in the same time (1172-85), was also decorated with mosaics but none of these survived except the 12th century image of Madonna del Tocco above the western portal. The Cathedral of Palermo is an architectural complex in Palermo ( Sicily, Italy)

The cathedral of Messina, consecrated in 1197, was also decorated with a great mosaic cycle, originally on par with Cefalù and Monreale, but heavily damaged and restored many times later. In the left apse of the same cathedral 14th century mosaics survived, representing the Madonna and Child between Saints Agata and Lucy, the Archangels Gabriel and Michael and Queens Eleonora and Elisabetta.

Southern Italy was also part of the Norman kingdom but great mosaics did not survive in this area except the fine mosaic pavement of the Otranto cathedral from 1166, with mosaics tied into a tree of life, mostly still preserved. Otranto is a town and commune in the Province of Lecce ( Apulia, Italy) in a fertile region once famous for its breed of horses The scenes depict biblical characters, warrior kings, medieval beasts, allegories of the months and working activity. Only fragments survived from the original mosaic decoration of Amalfi's Norman Cathedral. Amalfi is also a town in the Antioquia Departament in Colombia. The mosaic ambos in the churches of Ravello prove that mosaic art was widespread in Southern Italy during the 11-13th centuries. Ravello is a town and commune situated above the Amalfi Coast in the province of Salerno, Campania, Italy and has approximately

The palaces of the Norman kings were decorated with mosaics depicting animals and landscapes. The secular mosaics are seemingly more Eastern in character than the great religious cycles and show a strong Persian influence. The most notable examples are the Sala di Ruggero in the Palazzo dei Normanni, Palermo and the Sala della Fontana in the Zisa summer palace, both from the 12th century. The Palazzo dei Normanni is a palace in Palermo, Italy. It was the seat of the Kings of Sicily. Palermo ( Sicilian: Palermu, Greek: Panormus, al-Madinah during Muslim rule is a historic City in The Zisa is a castle in the western part of Palermo, Sicily. The construction was begun in the 12th century by Arabian craftsmen for king William I of

Venice

In parts of Italy, which were under eastern artistic influences, like Sicily and Venice, mosaic making never went out of fashion in the Middle Ages. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Sicily ( Italian and Sicilian: Sicilia) is an autonomous region of Italy. Venice ( Italian: Venezia, Venetian: Venesia or Venexia) is a city in Northern Italy, the capital of the The whole interior of the St Mark's Basilica in Venice is clad with elaborate, golden mosaics. Saint Mark's Basilica ( Italian: Basilica di San Marco a Venezia) the Cathedral of Venice, is the most famous of The oldest scenes were executed by Greek masters in the late 11th century but the majority of the mosaics are works of local artists from the 12-13th centuries. The decoration of the church was finished only in the 16th century. One hundred and ten scenes of mosaics in the atrium of St Mark's were based directly on the miniatures of the Cotton Genesis, a Byzantine manuscript that was brought to Venice after the sack of Constantinople (1204). The Cotton Genesis (London British Library MS Cotton Otho B VI is a 5th- or 6th-century Greek copy of the Book of Genesis. The mosaics were executed in the 1220s.

Other important Venetian mosaics can be found in the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta in Torcello from the 12th century, and in the Basilical of Santi Maria e Donato in Murano with a restored apse mosaic from the 12th century and a beautiful mosaic pavement (1140). The Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta ( Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta) is a basilica church on the island of Torcello, Venice, northern Torcello is a quiet and sparsely populated Island at the northern end of the Venetian Lagoon. Murano is usually described as an Island in the Venetian Lagoon, although like Venice itself it is actually an Archipelago of islands linked The apse of the San Cipriano Church in Murano was decorated with an impressive golden mosaic from the early 13th century showing Christ enthroned with Mary, St John and the two patron saints, Cipriano and Cipriana. When the church was demolished in the 19th century, the mosaic was bought by Frederick William IV of Prussia. Life Frederick William was educated by private tutors many of whom were experienced civil servants such as Friedrich Ancillon. It was reassembled in the Friedenskirche of Potsdam in the 1840s. The Protestant Church of Peace (Friedenskirche is situated in the Marly Gardens on the Green Fence in the palace grounds of Sanssouci Park in Potsdam Also see Potsdam New York (in the USA For the Potsdam Conference see Potsdam Conference.

Trieste was also an important centre of mosaic art. Trieste (Trieste Slovene and Croatian: Trst; German: Triest) is a city and port in northeastern Italy very near to The mosaics in the apse of the Cathedral of San Giusto were laid by master craftsmen from Veneto in the 12-13th centuries. Trieste Cathedral, dedicated to San Giusto, is the Cathedral and main church of Trieste, in northern Italy. Veneto or Venetia ( Vèneto) is one of the 20 regions of Italy.

Medieval Italy

The monastery of Grottaferrata founded by Greek Basilian monks and consecrated by the Pope in 1024 was decorated with Italo-Byzantine mosaics, some of which survived in the narthex and the interior. Grottaferrata is a small town and Comune in the Province of Rome, situated on the lower slopes of the Alban Hills, 20 km south east of Basilian monks are Monks who follow the "Rule" of Saint Basil the Great, bishop of Caesarea. The mosaics on the triumphal arch portray the Twelve Apostles sitting beside an empty throne, evoking Christ's ascent to Heaven. It is a Byzantine work of the 12th century. There is a beautiful 11th century Deesis above the main portal.

The Abbot of Monte Cassino, Desiderius sent envoys to Constantinople some time after 1066 to hire expert Byzantine mosaicists for the decoration of the rebuilt abbey church. For information about the World War II battle see the Battle of Monte Cassino. Pope Victor III ( c.1026 &ndash 16 September 1087) born Daufer (Dauphar Latinised Dauferius, was the Pope (from Constantinople (Κωνσταντινούπολις Konstantinoúpolis, or gr ἡ Πόλις hē Polis, Latin: la CONSTANTINOPOLIS According to chronicler Leo of Ostia the Greek artists decorated the apse, the arch and the vestibule of the basilica. Leo Marsicanus (meaning "of the Marsi " or Ostiensis (meaning "of Ostia " also known as Leone dei Conti di Marsi (1046 Their work was admired by contemporaries but was totally destroyed in later centuries except two fragments depicting greyhounds (now in the Monte Cassino Museum). "The abbot in his wisdom decided that great number of young monks in the monastery should be thoroughly initiated in these arts" - says the chronicler about the role of the Greeks in the revival of mosaic art in medieval Italy.

In Florence a magnificiant mosaic of the Last Judgement decorates the dome of the Battistero. Florence ( Italian: Firenze Florentia and Fiorenza) is the Capital City of the Italian region of Tuscany In Christian eschatology, the Last Judgment or Day of the Lord is the judgment by God of every human who ever lived The Florence Baptistry or Battistero di San Giovanni ( Baptistery of St The earliest mosaics, works of art of many unknown Venetian craftsmen (including probably Cimabue), date from 1225. Cenni di Pepo (Giovanni Cimabue (c 1240 — c 1302 also known as Bencivieni di Pepo or in modern Italian Benvenuto di Giuseppe was an Italian painter and creator The covering of the ceiling was probably not completed until the 14th century.

The impressive mosaic of Christ in Majesty, flanked by the Blessed Virgin and St. John the Evangelist in the apse of the cathedral of Pisa was designed by Cimabue in 1302. The Piazza del Duomo ("Cathedral Square" is a wide walled area at the heart of the city of Pisa, Tuscany Cenni di Pepo (Giovanni Cimabue (c 1240 — c 1302 also known as Bencivieni di Pepo or in modern Italian Benvenuto di Giuseppe was an Italian painter and creator It evokes the Monreale mosaics in style. It survived the great fire of 1595 which destroyed most of the mediveval interior decoration.

Sometimes not only church interiors but façades were also decorated with mosaics in Italy like in the case of the St Mark's Basilica in Venice (mainly from the 17-19th centuries, but the oldest one from 1270-75, "The burial of St Mark in the first basilica"), the Cathedral of Orvieto (golden Gothic mosaics from the 14th century, many times redone) and the Basilica di San Frediano in Lucca (huge, striking golden mosaic representing the Ascension of Christ with the apostles below, designed by Berlinghiero Berlinghieri in the 13th century). Saint Mark's Basilica ( Italian: Basilica di San Marco a Venezia) the Cathedral of Venice, is the most famous of The Duomo di Orvieto is a large 14th century Roman Catholic Cathedral situated in the town of Orvieto in Umbria, central Italy. The Basilica of San Frediano is a Romanesque church in Lucca, Italy, situated on the Piazza San Frediano. Lucca is a city in Tuscany, northern central Italy, situated on the river Serchio in a fertile plain near (but not on the Ligurian Sea The Cathedral of Spoleto is also decorated on the upper façade with a huge mosaic portraying the Blessing Christ (signed by one Solsternus from 1207). Spoleto Cathedral, also known as Duomo or Santa Maria dell'Assunta, is the main monument of the Umbrian city of Spoleto in Italy.

Western and Central Europe

Beyond the Alpes the first important example of mosaic art was the decoration of the Palatine Chapel in Aachen, commissioned by Charlemagne. Germigny-des-Prés is a commune of the Loiret département, in France. Alpes may refer to Alpes-de-Haute-Provence (formerly Basses-Alpes a French department in the south of France Hautes-Alpes, a department The Palatine Chapel in Aachen is the chapel of Charlemagne 's palace, now part of Aachen Cathedral. Charlemagne (ˈʃɑrlɨmeɪn Carolus Magnus or Karolus Magnus meaning Charles the Great) (747 – 28 January 814 was King of the Franks from 768 to his It was completely destroyed in a fire in 1650. A rare example of surviving Karolingian mosaics is the apsis decoration of the oratory of Germigny-des-Prés built in 805-806 by Theodulf, bishop of Orléans, a leading figure of Carolingian renaissance. Germigny-des-Prés is a commune of the Loiret département, in France. Theodulf of Orléans (ca 750-60 to 821 was the Bishop of Orléans (ca The Carolingian Renaissance was a period of intellectual and cultural revival occurring in the late eighth and ninth centuries with the peak of the activities This unique work of art, rediscovered only in the 19th century, had no followers.

Later fresco replaced the more labor-intensive technique of mosaic in Western-Europe, although mosaics were sometimes used as decoration on medieval cathedrals. The Royal Basilica of the Hungarian kings in Székesfehérvár (Alba Regia) had a mosaic decoration in the apse. Székesfehérvár (ˈseːkɛʃfɛˈheːrvaːr, colloquial Fehérvár Stuhlweißenburg İstolni Belgrad is a city in central Hungary, located around southwest of It was probably a work of Venetian or Ravennese craftsmen, executed in the first decades of the 11th century. The mosaic was almost totally destroyed together with the basilica in the 17th century. The Golden Gate of the St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague got its name from the golden 14th century mosaic of the Last Judgement above the portal. Saint Vitus's Cathedral (Katedrála svatého Víta is a Roman Catholic Cathedral in Prague, and the seat of the Archbishop of Prague. Prague (ˈprɑːg Praha (ˈpraɦa see also other names) is the Capital and Largest city of the Czech Republic. In Christian eschatology, the Last Judgment or Day of the Lord is the judgment by God of every human who ever lived It was executed by Venetian craftsmen.

In 2003 remains of a mosaic pavement were discovered under the ruins of the Bizere Monastery near the River Mureş in present-day Romania. The Frumuşeni Mosaics are a set of millennium-old Mosaics discovered in Romania at "Fântâna Turcului" (Turk's Well close to the locality of Frumuşeni Romania ( dated: Rumania, Roumania The panels depict real or fantastic animal, floral, solar and geometric representations. Some archeologists supposed that it was the floor of an Orthodox church, built some time between the 10th and 11th century. Other experts claim that it was part of the later Catholic monastery on the site because it shows the signs of strong Italianate influence. The monastery was situated that time in the territory of the Kingdom of Hungary. The Kingdom of Hungary (short form Hungary) was a considerable state in Central Europe that existed from 1001 to 1918 then from 1919 to 1946

Renaissance and Baroque

Although mosaics went out of fashion and were substituted by frescoes, some of the great Renaissance artists also worked with the old technique. Raffaello's Creation of the World in the dome of the Chigi Chapel in Santa Maria del Popolo is a notable example that was executed by a Venetian craftsman, Luigi di Pace. Raphael Sanzio, usually known by his first name alone (in Italian Raffaello) (April 6 or March 28 1483 – April 6 1520 was an Italian painter and Creation of the World is a Mosaic in the dome of the Chigi Chapel in Santa Maria del Popolo, Rome, designed by Raphael. The Chigi Chapel is one of six chapels in the Church of Santa Maria del Popolo, Piazza del Popolo, Rome Santa Maria del Popolo is a notable Augustinian church located in Rome.

During the papacy of Clement VIII (1592-1605), the “Congregazione della Reverenda Fabbrica di San Pietro" was established, providing an independent organisation charged with completing the decorations in the newly-built St. Peter's Basilica. Not to be confused with Antipope Clement VIII. Pope Clement VIII ( February 24, 1536 &ndash March 3, 1605 The Basilica of Saint Peter (Basilica Sancti Petri officially known in Italian as the Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano and commonly known as St Instead of frescoes the cavernous Basilica was mainly decorated with mosaics. Among the explanations are:

1) The old St. Peter's Basilica had been decorated with mosaic, as was common in churches built during the early Christian era; the seventeenth century followed the tradition to enhance continuity.

2) In a church like this with high walls and few windows, mosaics were brighter and reflected more light.

3) Mosaics had greater intrinsic longevity than either frescoes or canvases.

4) Mosaics had an association with bejeweled decoration, flaunting richness.

The mosaics of St. Peter's often show lively Baroque compositions based on designs or canvases from like Ciro Ferri, Guido Reni, Domenichino, Carlo Maratta, and many others. Baroque art redirects here Please disambiguate such links to Baroque painting, Baroque sculpture, etc Ciro Ferri ( 1634 - 13 September 1689) was an Italian Baroque sculptor and painter the chief pupil and successor of Pietro Guido Reni ( 4 November 1575 &ndash 18 August 1642) was a prominent Italian painter of high- Baroque style Domenico Zampieri (or Domenichino) ( October 21, 1581 &ndash April 15, 1641) was a prominent Italian Baroque Carlo Maratta or Maratti ( May 13, 1625 - December 15 1713) was an Italian painter of High Baroque, active mostly in Rome Raphael is represented by a mosaic replica of this last painting, the Transfiguration. Raphael Sanzio, usually known by his first name alone (in Italian Raffaello) (April 6 or March 28 1483 – April 6 1520 was an Italian painter and The Transfiguration is considered the last painting by the Italian High Renaissance master Raphael. Many different artists contributed to the seventeenth- and eighteenth-century mosaics in St. Peter's, including Giovanni Battista Calandra, Fabio Cristofari (d. Giovanni Battista Calandra (1568- c 1644 was an Italian Mosaic artist in the Vatican. Fabio Cristofari (died 1689 was an Italian Baroque painter and Mosaicist active in Rome. 1689), and Pietro Paolo Cristofari (d. Pietro Paolo Cristofari (1685–1743 was a late- Baroque Italian mosaicist active in Rome, and the son of Fabio Cristofari. 1743). ^[1] Works of the Fabbrica were often used as papal gifts.

Eastern Orthodox countries

The craft has also been popular in the Eastern Orthodox countries and Russia, inherited as part of the Byzantine tradition. The Eastern Orthodox Church is the second largest single Christian Communion in the world Yaroslav, the Grand Prince of the Kievan Rus' built a large cathedral in his capital, Kiev. Yaroslav I the Wise (c 978 in Kiev - February 20, 1054 in Kiev) ( East Slavic: Ярослав Мудрый Christian name Kievan Rus′ (Ки́евская Русь romanised: Kievskaya Rus', rusʲ also written as Kyivan Rus′ (Ки́ївська Русь or Kievan Kiev, also known as Kyiv ( Ukrainian:, Kyiv, ˈkɪjiw Russian:, Kiyev; see also Cities' alternative names) is the The model of the church was the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, and it was also called Saint Sophia Cathedral. Hagia Sophia (Ayasofya Αγία Σοφία " Holy Wisdom " Sancta Sophia or Sancta Sapientia) is a former patriarchal Basilica, later Constantinople (Κωνσταντινούπολις Konstantinoúpolis, or gr ἡ Πόλις hē Polis, Latin: la CONSTANTINOPOLIS Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kiev ( Собор Святої Софії Sobor Sviatoyi Sofiyi or Софійський собор Sofiys’kyi sobor, It was built mainly by Byzantine master craftsmen, sent by Constantine Monomachos, between 1037 and 1046. Constantine IX Monomachos ( Greek: Κωνσταντίνος Θ΄ Μονομάχος Kōnstantinos IX Monomakhos) c Naturally the more important surfaces in the interior were decorated with golden mosaics. In the dome we can see the traditional stern Pantokrator supported by angels. Between the 12 windows of the drum were apostles and the four evangelists on the pendentives. The apse is dominated by an orant Theotokos with a Deesis in three medallions above. Theotokos (Θεοτόκος translit Theotókos) is a title of Mary the mother of Jesus used especially in the Eastern Orthodox, In Byzantine art, and later Eastern Orthodox art generally the Deësis or Deisis (δέησις "prayer" or "supplication" is a Below is a Communion of the Apostles.

Prince Sviatopolk II built St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery in Kiev in 1108. Sviatopolk II Iziaslavich ( Cyrillic: Святополк II Ізяславич 1050&ndash April 16, 1113) was supreme ruler of the Kievan Rus St Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery (Михайлівський золотоверхий монастир translit Kiev, also known as Kyiv ( Ukrainian:, Kyiv, ˈkɪjiw Russian:, Kiyev; see also Cities' alternative names) is the The mosaics of the church are undoubtedly works of Byzantine artists. Although the church was destroyed by Soviet authorities, majority of the panels were preserved. Small parts of ornamental mosaic decoration from the 12th century survived in the Saint Sophia Cathedral in Novgorod but this church was largely decorated with frescoes. The Cathedral of St Sophia (the Holy Wisdom of God) in the Kremlin (or Detinets in Novgorod the Great is the cathedral church of the Archbishop Veliky Novgorod (Вели́кий Но́вгород is the foremost historic city of North-Western Russia and the administrative center of Novgorod

Mosaics stopped being used for church decoration as early as the 12th century in the eastern Slavic countries. Later Russian churches were decorated with frescoes, similarly than orthodox churches in the Balkan.

The apse mosaic of the Gelati Monastery in Georgia from c. The Monastery of the Virgin - Gelati near Kutaisi ( Imereti region of Western Georgia) was founded by the King of Georgia David the Builder Georgia ( საქართველო, Sakartvelo) is a Transcontinental country in the Caucasus region situated at the dividing line between 1130 is probably the work of Byzantine mosaicist invited by King Demetre I. Demetre I (დემეტრე I (c 1093&ndash1156 from the Bagrationi dynasty was King of Georgia from 1125 to 1156 The fragmentary panel depicting the Theotokos flanked by two archangels looks thoroughly Byzantine (with Greek inscriptions).

Islamic art

Islamic architecture used mosaic technique to decorate religious buildings and palaces since the Arabs conquered the eastern provinces of the Byzantine Empire in the 7th century. Islamic architecture has encompassed a wide range of both secular and religious styles from the foundation of Islam to the present day influencing the design and construction The araB gene Promoter is a bacterial promoter activated by e L-arabinose binding The 7th century is the period from 601 to 700 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. In Syria and Egypt the Arabs were influenced by the great tradition of Roman and Early Christian mosaic art. Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. During the reign of the Umayyad Dynasty mosaic making remained a flourishing art form in Islamic culture. Umayyad era mosaics followed Byzantine models.

The first great religious building of Islam, the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, which was built between 688-692, was decorated with glass mosaics both inside and outside. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. The Dome of the Rock ( Arabic: مسجد قبة الصخرة translit Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, he-Latn Yerushaláyim; Arabic: ar القُدس, ar-Latn al-Quds) is the Only parts of the interior decoration survived. The rich floral motives follow the Roman traditions, and "Islamic only in the sense that the vocabulary is syncretic and does not include representation of men or animals. "^[2]

The most important early Islamic mosaic work is the decoration of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, then capital of the Arab Caliphate. The Grand Mosque of Damascus, also known as the Ummayad Mosque' ( Arabic: جامع بني أمية الكبير transl Damascus ( دمشق,, also commonly known as الشام ash-Shām) is the capital and largest city of Syria. A caliphate (from the Arabic خلافة or khilāfa) is the political leadership of the Muslim community in classical and medieval Islamic history The mosque was built between 706 and 715. Events By region July 2 - In China, Emperor Zhongzong of Tang had the remains of his mother and recently-deceased ruling empress Events By Place Europe September 26 — Battle of Compiègne: Ragenfrid defeats Theudoald, becoming mayor The caliph obtained 200 skilled workers from the Byzantine Emperor to decorate the building. This is evidenced by the partly Byzantine style of the decoration. The mosaics of the inner courtyard depict the Paradise with beautiful trees, flowers and small hill towns and villages in the background. The mosaics include no human figures which makes them different from the otherwise similar contemporary Constantinapolitan works. The biggest continuous section survived under the western arcade of the courtyard. This section is called "Barada Panel" after the river Barada. The Barada ( بردى, Chrysorrhoas) is the main river of Damascus, the capital city of Syria. It is thought that the mosque used to have the largest golden mosaic in the world, at over 4. 000 m². In 1893 a fire damaged the mosque extensively and many mosaics were lost, although some have been restored since. Year 1893 ( MDCCCXCIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

The mosaics of the Umayyad Mosque gave inspiration to later Damascene mosaic works. The Dome of the Treasury, which stands in the mosque courtyard, is covered with fine mosaics, probably dating from 13th or 14th century restoration work. The style of them are strikingly similar to the Barada Panel. The mausoleum of Sultan Baibars, Madrassa Zahiriyah, which was built after 1277, is also decorated with a band of golden floral and architectural mosaics, running around inside the main prayer hall. Baibars, or al-Malik al-Zahir Rukn al-Din Baybars al-Bunduqdari ( Arabic ar الملك‭ ‬الظاهر‭ ‬ركن‭ ‬الدين‭ ‬بيبرس‭ ‬البندقداري The Az-Zahiriyah library in Damascus Syria dates back to 1277, taking its name from its founder Sultan Baibars (1223 - 1277 ^[3]

Non-religious Umayyad mosaic works were mainly floor panels which decorated the palaces of the caliphs and other high-ranking officials. The Mezquita (Spanish for " Mosque " of Cordoba is a Roman Catholic Cathedral and former mosque situated in the Andalusian city of Córdoba ||-||-||} Córdoba ( Cordova in English is a City in Andalusia, southern Spain, and the capital of the province of Córdoba. They were closely modelled after the mosaics of the Roman country villas, once common in the Eastern Mediterranean. The most superb example can be found in the bath house of Hisham's Palace, Palestine which was made around 744. Hisham's Palace ( Arabic Khirbat al-Mafjar) is the archaeological remains of an Umayyad winter palace located five km north of Jericho Palestine is a name which has been widely used since Roman times to refer to the region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. The main panel depicts a large tree and underneath it a lion attacking a deer (right side) and two deers peacefully grazing (left side). The panel probably represents good and bad governance. Mosaics with classical geometric motifs survived in the bath area of the 8th century Umayyad palace complex in Anjar, Lebanon. Anjar (عنجر Armenian: hy Անճար also known as Haoush Mousa (حوش موسى is a town of Lebanon located in the Bekaa Valley Lebanon (ˈlɛbənɒn Arabic: ar لبنان Lubnān) officially the Republic of Lebanon or Lebanese Republic (ar الجمهورية اللبنانية The luxurious desert residence of Al-Walid II in Qasr al-Hallabat (in present-day Jordan) was also decorated with floor mosaics that show a high level of technical skill. Walid ibn Yazid or Walid II (died April 16, 744) (الوليد بن يزيد was an Umayyad Caliph who ruled from 743 until 744 Jordan, officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (الأردنّ al-Urdunn) is an Arab country in Southwest Asia spanning the southern The best preserved panel at Hallabat is divided by a Tree of Life flanked by "good" animals on one side and "bad" animals on the other. Among the Hallabat representations are vine scrolls, grapes, pomegranates, oryx, wolves, hares, a leopard, pairs of partridges, fish, bulls, ostriches, rabbits, rams, goats, lions and a snake. At Qastal, near Amman, excavations in 2000 uncovered the earliest known Umayyad mosaics in present-day Jordan, dating probably from the caliphate of Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan (685-705). Amman (ɑˈmɑːn sometimes spelled Ammann ( Arabic عمان ʿAmmān) is the Capital city of the Hashemite Kingdom 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Jordan, officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (الأردنّ al-Urdunn) is an Arab country in Southwest Asia spanning the southern Abd al-Malik ibn Marwan (646-705 (عبد الملك بن مروان was the 5th Umayyad Caliph. They cover much of the floor of a finely decorated building that probably served as the palace of a local governor. The Qastal mosaics depict geometrical patterns, trees, animals, fruits and rosettes. Except for the open courtyard, entrance and staircases, the floors of the entire palace were covered in mosaics. ^[4]

Some of the best examples of later Islamic mosaics were produced in Moorish Spain. The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of Muslim (and earlier non-Muslim people of Berber and Arab descent Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. The golden mosaics in the mihrab and the central dome of the Great Mosque in Corduba have a decidedly Byzantine character. A mihrab (محراب pl محاريب is a niche in the wall of a Mosque that indicates the Qibla, that is the direction of the Kaaba The Mezquita (Spanish for " Mosque " of Cordoba is a Roman Catholic Cathedral and former mosque situated in the Andalusian city of Córdoba ||-||-||} Córdoba ( Cordova in English is a City in Andalusia, southern Spain, and the capital of the province of Córdoba. They were made between 965 and 970 by local craftsmen, supervised by a master mosaicist from Constantinople, who was sent by the Byzantine Emperor to the Umayyad Caliph of Spain. 965 was a year in the 10th century. Events By Place Europe The Khazar fortress of Sarkel falls 970 was a year in the 10th century. Events This is an area code in Northwest Colorado Also see 970 Gang By Place Constantinople (Κωνσταντινούπολις Konstantinoúpolis, or gr ἡ Πόλις hē Polis, Latin: la CONSTANTINOPOLIS The decoration is composed of colourful floral arabesques and wide bands of Arab calligraphy. The arabesque is an elaborative application of repeating geometric forms that often echo the forms of plants and animals Calligraphy (from Greek kallos "beauty" + graphẽ "writing" is the art of writing (Mediavilla 1996 17 The mosaics were purported to evoke the glamour of the Great Mosque in Damascus, which was lost for the Umayyad family. ^[5]

Mosaics generally went out of fashion in the Islamic world after the 8th century but a similar effect was reached by the use of geometric tilework, known as zillij in North Africa and qashani further east. The 8th century is the period from 701 to 800 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian / Common Era. Zellige (الزليج (also Zellidj, Zillij, Zellij) is Terra cotta Tilework covered with enamel in the form of chips set North Africa or Northern Africa is the Northernmost Region of the African Continent, separated by the Sahara from Sub-Saharan Qashani is the method of Mosaic production in the 19th century

Modern mosaics

A modern example of mosaic is the Museum of Natural History station of the New York Subway. 81st Street–Museum of Natural History is a local station on the IND Eighth Avenue Line of the New York City Subway. The New York City Subway is a Rapid transit system owned by the City of New York and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, a subsidiary agency Some modern mosaics are the work of modernisme style architects Antoni Gaudí and Josep Maria Jujol, for example the mosaics in the Park Güell in Barcelona. Catalan Modernisme (not to be confused with Modernism) was the Catalan equivalent to a number of fin-de-siècle movements such as Symbolism, Josep Maria Jujol Gibert ( Tarragona, September 16 1879 &ndash Barcelona, May 1 1949) was a Catalan architect Park Güell is a garden complex with architectural elements situated on the hill of El Carmel in the Gràcia district of Barcelona, Barcelona ( Catalan bəɾsəˈlonə Spanish baɾθeˈlona is the capital and most populous city of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia

Mosaic Terminology

Mosaic is an art form which uses small pieces of materials placed together to create a unified whole. The materials commonly used are glass, ceramic, marble, pebble, mirror, shells and china.

The term for each piece of material is Tessera (plural: tesserae). "Abaciscus" redirects here For the Geometer moth Genus, see Abaciscus (moth. The term for the spaces in between where the grout goes is the Interstices. Andamento is the word used to describe the movement and flow of Tesserae. "Abaciscus" redirects here For the Geometer moth Genus, see Abaciscus (moth. The 'opus', the Latin for ‘work’, is the way in which the pieces are cut and placed varies and is known.

• Opus Tessellatum: Tesserae laid in regular straight lines like bricks. Opus tessellatum refers to a type of Mosaic made from Tesserae.
• Opus Regulatum: Vertical and horizontal lines in regular grid.
• Opus Vermiculatum: Flowing lines of tesserae wriggling over the surface. Opus vermiculatum is a type of Mosaic which draws an outline around shapes using Tesserae.
• Opus Musivum: Vermiculatum used totally over image and background.
• Opus Palladianum: Irregular fitting shapes like crazy paving.

Mosaic technique

There are three main methods: the direct method, the indirect method and the double indirect method. For the river in Guangxi Province see Lijiang River. Other uses see Lijiang Lijiang City ( is a Prefecture-level city Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES The Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (official Catalan nameTemplo Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia "Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family" often simply Barcelona ( Catalan bəɾsəˈlonə Spanish baɾθeˈlona is the capital and most populous city of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia

Direct method

The direct method of mosaic construction involves directly placing (gluing) the individual tesserae onto the supporting surface. "Abaciscus" redirects here For the Geometer moth Genus, see Abaciscus (moth. This method is well suited to surfaces that have a three-dimensional quality, such as vases.

The direct method suits small projects that are transportable. Another advantage of the direct method is that the resulting mosaic is progressively visible, allowing for any adjustments to tile colors placement.

The disadvantage of the direct method is that the artist must work directly at the chosen surface, which is often not practical for long periods of time. It is unsuitable for large scale projects. Also, it is difficult to control the evenness of the finished surface. This is of particular importance when creating a functional surface such as a floor or a table top.

A modern version of the direct method, sometimes called "double direct," is to work directly onto fiberglass mesh. The mosaic can then be constructed with the design visible on the surface and transported to its final location. Large work can be done in this way, with the mosaic being cut up for shipping and then reassembled for installation. It enables the artist to work in comfort in a studio rather than at the site of installation.

Indirect method

The indirect method of applying tesserae is often used for very large projects, projects with repetitive elements or for areas needing site specific shapes. Tiles are applied face-down to a backing paper using an adhesive, and later transferred onto walls, floors or craft projects. This method is most useful for extremely large projects as it gives the maker time to rework areas. Mosaic murals, benches and tabletops are some of the items usually made using the indirect method, as it results in a smoother and more even surface.

Double indirect method

The double indirect method can be used when it is important to see the work during the creation process as it will appear when completed. The tesserae are placed face-up on a medium (often adhesive-backed paper or sticky plastic) as it will appear when installed. When the mosaic is complete, a similar medium is placed atop it. The piece is then turned over, the original underlying material is removed, and the piece is installed as in the indirect method described above. In comparison to the indirect method, this is a fussy system to use and leads to a significant probability of damaging the work.

Mathematics

The best way to arrange variously shaped tiles on a surface can lead to complicated mathematical problems - see tessellation for details. A tessellation or tiling of the plane is a collection of Plane figures that fills the plane with no overlaps and no gaps Roger Penrose is a British mathematician who has worked with tiling problems - see Penrose tilings. Sir Roger Penrose, PhD, OM, FRS (born 8 August 1931) is an English Mathematical physicist and Emeritus A Penrose tiling is a nonperiodic tiling generated by an aperiodic set of Prototiles named after Roger Penrose, who investigated these sets

The artist M. C. Escher was influenced by Moorish mosaics to begin his investigations into tessellation. Maurits Cornelis Escher (17 June 1898 – 27 March 1972 usually referred to as M A tessellation or tiling of the plane is a collection of Plane figures that fills the plane with no overlaps and no gaps

Digital imaging

A mosaic in digital imaging is a plurality of non-overlapping images, arranged in some tessellation. Digital imaging or digital image acquisition is the creation of Digital images typically from a physical object A tessellation or tiling of the plane is a collection of Plane figures that fills the plane with no overlaps and no gaps A photomosaic is a picture made up of various other pictures (pioneered by Joseph Francis), in which each "pixel" is another picture, when examined closely. In the field of photographic imaging a photographic mosaic (also known under the term Photomosaic, a Portmanteau of photo and Mosaic, trademarked In Digital imaging, a pixel ( pict ure el ement is the smallest piece of information in an image

A tile mosaic is a digital image made up of individual tiles, arranged in a non-overlapping fashion, e. A digital image is a representation of a two-dimensional Image using ones and zeros (binary A tile is a manufactured piece of hard-wearing material such as Ceramic, stone, metal or even Glass. g. to make a static image on a shower room or bathing pool floor, by breaking the image down into square pixels formed from ceramic tiles (a typical size is 1 inch by 1 inch, as for example, on the floor of the University of Toronto pool, though sometimes larger tiles such as 2 by 2 inch are used). This article is about the University of Toronto's St George Campus These digital images are coarse in resolution and often simply express text, such as the depth of the pool in various places, but some such digital images are used to show a sunset or other beach theme.

See also

• Glass tiles
• Micro mosaic
• Paint by number
• Photographic mosaic
• Stained glass
• Tesserae
• Impressionist mosaics

Notes

References

• Lowden, John. Early Christian and Byzantine art. Phaidon.  (for the section of Byzantium and Sicily)

Other mosaic books

• The Art of Mosaic - The Encyclopaedia of Projects, Techniques and Designs Sarah Kelly Search Press
• Mosaic Techniques and Traditions Sonia King Sterling Publishing Co
• The Art of Mosaic Design JoAnn Locktov & Leslie Plummer Clagett Quarry Books
• The Art of Mosaic Caroline Suter & Celia Gregory Anness Publishing Limited
• The Complete Pebble Mosaic Handbook Maggy Howarth Frances Lincoln
• Ravenna- Art & History Giuseppe Bovini Longo Publisher
• Ancient Mosaics Roger Ling British Museum Press
• Mosaics – Inspiration & 24 Original Projects Kaffe Fassett & Candace Bahouth Ebury Press
• Decorative Mosaics Elaine M. Goodwin Letts Contemporary Crafts
• The Mosaic Book Peggy Vance & Celia Goodrick-Clarke Conran Octopus
• Making Mosaics- Design, Techniques & Projects LeslieDierks Sterling/Lark
• Antonio Gaudi-Master Architect Juan Bassegoda Nonell Abbeville Press
• Stylish & simple Mosaic Emma Biggs & Tessa Hunkin Aurim
• The Los Angeles Watts Towers Goldstone & Goldstone Thames & Hudson

External links

• Society of American Mosaic Artists
• British Association for Modern Mosaic
• Mosaics resource
• Mosaic design tutorial
• Photos of mosaics in Hagia Sophia, Constantinople
•   "Mosaics". Catholic Encyclopedia. The Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to today as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language Encyclopedia published by The Encyclopedia (1913). New York: Robert Appleton Company.  
• Corning Museum of Glass

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