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    The art of mosaics has a history spanning over 5,000 years. Studying ancient mosaics from civilizations like the Romans and Byzantines provides valuable lessons on techniques and use of materials, lighting effects, and depictions of water and transparency. Mosaics have endured because the stone, glass, and ceramic materials used are durable and resistant to damage from water. Many early mosaics were found preserved because they were used as floor and pavement designs that were buried and protected over time.

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    mosaichistory

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    The art of mosaics has a history spanning over 5,000 years. Studying ancient mosaics from civilizations like the Romans and Byzantines provides valuable lessons on techniques and use of materials, lighting effects, and depictions of water and transparency. Mosaics have endured because the stone, glass, and ceramic materials used are durable and resistant to damage from water. Many early mosaics were found preserved because they were used as floor and pavement designs that were buried and protected over time.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    185 views1 page

    Mosaichistory

    Uploaded by

    api-254313501
    The art of mosaics has a history spanning over 5,000 years. Studying ancient mosaics from civilizations like the Romans and Byzantines provides valuable lessons on techniques and use of materials, lighting effects, and depictions of water and transparency. Mosaics have endured because the stone, glass, and ceramic materials used are durable and resistant to damage from water. Many early mosaics were found preserved because they were used as floor and pavement designs that were buried and protected over time.

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    Name:___________________

    TheHistoryofMosaics

    Theartofmosaicshasalonghistorystretchingback5000years.
    Despitemanyupswingsanddownturnsinpopularity,itsappealhas
    endured.Studyingtheseancientmosaicsoffersavaluable
    connectiontothetraditionsofmosaicart.Manymosaicistsofthe
    pastwereabsolutemasters.Noonlyaremanyofthetechniquesand
    materialsusedthenessentiallythesametoday,butthereisalsoa
    wealthofideasandinspirationtobefoundintheirwork.For
    instance,theRomansusuallyworkedwithalimitedpaletteofcolors,
    yettheywereabletocreatemosaicsofincredibleexpressiveness
    withstonesinafewshades.

    MosaicsfromtheByzantineerateachusaboutworkingwithlight.
    Forexample,whenworkingonvaultsinByzantinechurchesthey
    pushedgoldtesseraeintothemortaratdifferentanglestoachieve
    maximumlightreflection.Myfavoritelessontolookforisdifferent
    treatmentsofwaterandtransparencycreatedfromopaquetesserae.

    Onereasonwhywehavesomanyfineexamplesofhistoricmosaics
    tostudyandlearnfromisthedurabilityofthematerials.Pebbles,
    marble,andglasscreateenduringworksofartthat,unlikefrescoes,
    arerelativelyimpervioustowaterdamage.Anotherreasonforthe
    abundanceofhistoricmosaicsisthatmostoftheearlymosaicswere
    floorsandpavements.Whenthebuildingscollapsed,thefloorswere
    buriedandprotecteduntillaterexcavationsuncoveredthem.When
    mosaicsmovedupontowallsandceilingsinlateryears,theywere
    ofteninchurchesthatremainedinuseandweremaintainedfora
    verylongtime.

    By600BCE,theGreekswerecreatingfloormosaics.Earlypebble
    mosaics,discoveredatDelphiweremadeofblackandwhite
    watersmoothedstonesusedtocreategeometricpatternsinthe
    pavements.Soonafter,figuralmosaicsappearedthatwerealso
    createdfromblackandwhitepebblessetintoabrownmortar.The
    introductionofcolortesseraedidnothappenuntil300BCE.Overthe
    next100years,thewatersmoothedpebblesevolvedtocutpiecesof
    stonethatultimatelyobtainedtheregularityofcubedtesserae.
    Around150BCE,mosaicsfromDelos,utilizedabroaderpaletteof
    colorsastesseraeofcoloredglassbegantobeused.Nolonger
    reservedfortheelite,theartwasacceptedandavailableto
    middleclassmerchantsandofficials.Mosaicswerebeingusedin
    manyroomsofhouses.

    Notes

    Howoldaretheoldest
    mosaics?

    Whatisapersonwhomakes
    mosaicscalled?

    Byzantine=MiddleEastfrom
    330CE1453CE

    HowdidByzantinechurches
    createlightintheirmosaics?

    Opaque=notabletosee
    through,nottransparent

    Whatdoyouthinkdurability
    means?

    Whydowestillhavesomany
    examplesofancientmosaics
    around?

    WhendidGreeksstartusing
    colorintheirmosaics?

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