The Grand Tour of Mosaics - Norther Italy

Composed by fragments of different shapes, materials and colours, mosaics have dazzled, mesmerized and captured beholders ever since antiquity. Although the origin of the name “mosaic” is uncertain, it is believed to be associated with the idea of beauty in both Latin and ancient Greek. Beauty, in fact, undoubtedly springs to mind when contemplating these mysterious, captivating and fascinating masterpieces that were both used for functional and aesthetic purposes. The earliest known mosaics have been found in a Mesopotamian temple and date back to the 3rd millennium BC: ivory, seashells and stones were employed to craft decorative pieces, which paved the way for works executed over the following millennia, in particular during the Roman Empire.

From the 4th century AD to the Renaissance, exceptional examples emerged in catholic basilicas in Italy, opus sectile being the most employed technique, whereby figures and shapes are obtained using juxtaposed polychrome marble slabs. Byzantine art, which developed between the V and the VI century AD, saw mosaics as the ideal way to convey its idea of harmony: static images, two-dimensional figures and inexpressive faces stand out on a glimmering golf leaf background. The 20th century saw a revival of mosaics, with modernist artists and architects taking advantage of the truly expressive faculty of such a significant art form. This spellbinding journey explores the potency of a unique technique, taking you to several places across northern Italy which host amazing mosaics, visiting mosaic schools and taking part in workshops, speaking to modern-era artists and capturing the essence of a highly ornate, inspiring art.