What is Mosaic Art?
Mosaics are often made by meticulously arranging colored glass tiles in eye-catching, aesthetic patterns. Mosaics are known to mesmerize the viewer with dazzling colors, distinctive textures, and unique patterns.
The Origin of Mosaics
The oldest known mosaics were found in Mesopotamia in the 8th Century BC. They were originally made from pebbles. Greek manufacturers further developed this technique in the 5th Century BC. Pebbles were homogeneous and varied only between black and white, making them perfect for floors or footpaths. These designs were perfect for creating an even texture without any large stones getting in the way. Gathering pebbles was also a great way to cut down on their labor costs.
They would design the work with stones a few centimeters in size, then they filled the outlines with smaller pebbles. Greek manufacturers were able to create complex designs using this simple but powerful technique. Around 400 BC, the color range was expanded with the use of green and red pebbles.
Marble was one of the most popular stones in creating mosaics. The reason is that marble can be broken into very small pieces while providing a wide variety of colors. The availability of this material meant artists were not restricted in their ability to create a range of styles. More and more colors became available over time, allowing mosaic art to reach new levels of quality and complexity. The origin of mosaics is accredited to the Greeks, but they were also used in Assyrian, Egyptian, Persian, and other ancient civilizations. Mosaics designed in Rome were cherished by their citizens and are still appreciated today.
The Romans designed mosaics to be used on walls, floors, great halls, villas, and public houses. After the Roman era, mosaics were integrated into Christian, Byzantine, Persian, and Indian architecture. Most would consider the center of mosaic art production to be Syria. Syrians mastered this craft and took it with them through their tumultuous and challenging history.
History of Greek and Roman Mosaic Art
Mosaics truly thrived as an art form during the Greco-Roman period, from the rise of Alexander the Great until the fall of Rome. It was the Greeks who raised the pebble mosaic technique to an art form, with precise geometric patterns and detailed scenes of people and animals. By 200 BC, manufactured pieces ("tesserae") were being used to give extra details and a range of colors to the work. Using small tesserae, sometimes only a few millimeters in size, allowed mosaics to imitate the detail of paintings.
Many of the mosaics preserved at old sites like Pompeii, for example, were the work of Greek artists. This style was embraced by the Romans, who by 200 AD were beginning to create mosaics on walls, with examples such as "The Battle of Issus", depicting the famous battle of Alexander the Great and Darius.
Mosaic Art Today
Centuries later, mosaics have become a contemporary art with unlimited possibilities. They have enjoyed it the world over and their popularity continues to grow! Mosaics are now used to decorate the interiors and exteriors of homes and other buildings. Modern technology has greatly reduced the time needed to create mosaics through the use of laser and water-jet stone cutting. Mosaics are extremely popular in some countries with extraordinary works being produced with massive budgets. The Emirates Palace in the UAE is a fine example of this.
Creating mosaics is an art form that has stood the test of time and evolved as people have. There is no evidence of this stopping, and hopefully, this delicate, beautiful practice will continue to inspire people for thousands of years to come.
