Mosaic (ital. Mosaico, from lat. Musivum, literally - dedicated to muses) is the common name for several techniques of decorative and applied art. The most famous of them are Roman and Florentine. A mosaic is an image or pattern made of particles that are homogeneous or different in material (it can be stone, smalt, ceramic tiles, stained glass).
Florentine mosaic is the most technically sophisticated kind of mosaic. For its manufacture, craftsmen use colored ornamental stones of certain shades, which are given the desired shape and cut. After processing, the stone elements are joined to each other, forming a pattern.
The first mosaic samples date back to the 3rd millennium BC. and belong to the culture of ancient Sumer, which existed in the Middle East in the area of Mesopotamia. Archaeologists have found wood and clay products inlaid with shells, ivory, lapis lazuli and other materials. Mosaics were also laid out on the floor. Later, when people appreciated the enormous decorative possibilities of the mosaic, the scope of its application expanded: it began to decorate musical instruments, furniture, dishes and walls of buildings. From Mesopotamia, mosaics migrated to Egypt, and later to the centers of Crito – Mycenaean culture.
Casket "Standard Ur" (2.5 thousand years BC): (London, British Museum)
In ancient times, Alexandria of Egypt became the main mosaic center, from where the mosaic production was borrowed by the Romans. During this evolution, materials and mosaic manufacturing techniques have changed.
In the classical period, mosaic patterns on the floor were made mainly of colored pebbles - from whole, not split pebbles. Initially, Roman mosaics were also made of stone, but later smalt was invented. Smalt is an opaque colored glass that is smelted in furnaces, and then, after cooling and solidification, is inscribed on modules of the required size. After the appearance of such material, Roman mosaic became widespread and reached unprecedented artistic heights.
Battle of Alexander the Great with Darius, Pompeii (2nd century BC), fragment of Roman mosaic
The mosaic reached particularly high perfection in Byzantium, when mosaic images began to adorn the walls and vaults of churches. Sets of smalt and stones (often semiprecious) were not polished, which allowed us to achieve color depth. The shimmering surface of these mosaics, their golden backgrounds, optically expanded the real space of the interiors of temples and palaces of the nobility.
The Florentine mosaic technique developed much later, somewhere in the middle of the XVI century. In Florence, artists have long been engaged in mosaics, but only in the Renaissance did they develop an original technique, which will be discussed later. Florentine mosaic It was not widespread until the time when it was not interested in the Tuscan Duke Ferdinando I of Medici (1549 - 1609). His family owned the most famous mosaic workshop in the city, opened in 1580, but only his energy gave the Florentine mosaic a new impetus. Soon after its filing, the fashion for the Florentine mosaic spread throughout Europe.
Christ is the Good Shepherd. Mosaic of the V century. Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. Ravenna
The famous historian and theorist of Renaissance art D. Vasari was one of the first to give a description of the Florentine mosaic technique. “Our contemporary masters,” he wrote, “added another kind of mosaic to the mosaic of small pieces - in the form of inlays of marble, reproducing the stories written in chiaroscuro ... Therefore, they began to depict with great skill huge stories that can be placed not only on the floors ... but inlaid with them also the facades of walls and palaces. ”
In the Medici workshop, which was called the “Gallery of Dei Lavori,” Italian masters began experimenting with composing images from colored stones, which later became known as “pietra dura”, which in Italian means “ornamental stone”.
So gradually a new kind of mosaic appeared - Florentine or “pietra dura”, the technique of which was called commesso (“docked”). The stones, which gave a different shape, were so tightly fitted that the border between them was difficult to distinguish. This made it possible to create beautiful interior items. The art of creating mosaic paintings in the Florentine style was very popular in Europe for about three centuries. But by the end of the 19th century, the Florentine mosaic began to gradually go out of fashion.
In Russia, the Florentine mosaic appeared under Empress Elizabeth in the first half of the 18th century. However, the level of skill until the mid-19th century was low. Russian masters could not compete with the best European artists. The breakthrough occurred later and it was associated with the activities of Ivan Sokolov, who first studied at the art school at the Peterhof grinding factory, and then in 1847 was sent to master the skill in Florence. Upon returning to his homeland, Sokolov created a workshop in Peterhof, which soon became known for its products throughout Europe.
The Florentine mosaic developed in Soviet times, it decorated the ceilings and walls of the subway and various public buildings. Basically, these were monumental canvases, in connection with which the Florentine mosaic lost its jewelry filigree. Now the art of Florentine mosaic is experiencing a new upsurge in Russia.
A special kind of decorative mosaic is the mosaic used in the architecture for cladding, known as the “Russian mosaic”. It is made of thin plates of expensive stone, selected so that the decorated part of the building seems to be made of whole stone. An unsurpassed example of “Russian mosaic” is facing with malachite and lapis lazuli of some columns in St. Isaac's Cathedral in St. Petersburg.
The last surge of mosaic art was experienced in the modern era: mosaic decoration of architectural buildings by A. Gaudi, mosaic by G. Klimt in Austria, M. A. Vrubel in Russia. In the XX century. many remarkable masters worked in the mosaic technique: D. Rivera, D. Siqueiros, R. Guttuso, A. M. Vasnetsov, A. A. Deineka, P. D. Korin, N. A. Andronov, and others.
In addition to the classic types of mosaics, today there are many options for various mosaic techniques and technologies. One of the most popular today is a mosaic made of broken or patterned ceramic or stained glass. The founder of this approach is considered by Antonio Gaudi, who actively used mosaic from broken ceramics and glass in his architectural masterpieces.
History
Commesso is the middle name of the Florentine mosaic. This is a technique for creating paintings with thin pieces of bright colored semiprecious stones, developed in Florence at the end of the 16th century. Most common The stones for its production are agate, quartz, chalcedony, jasper, granite, porphyry, lapis lazuli. The design of commesso for countertops and small wall panels ranges from symbolic colors to landscapes. The work is carried out with painstaking care and sensitivity to an art object.
The first recorded copy of this technique appeared in the late 14th century in Florence, it was located at the Duke of Medici. In the 16th century, Francesco-I hired several famous Italian artists to create panels. Art began to develop rapidly. In 1588, Francesco's successor, Ferdinando-I, founded the Opificio delle Pietre Dure stone workshop as a permanent venue for master classes. The first group of hired artists perfected the art of Commesso in a very illusory perspective. The workshop existed in the 17th century. It produced decorations for family funeral chapels.
By the beginning of the 18th century, work on the assembly of small parts was in demand throughout Europe. Florentine artisans decorated the halls of European courts. The workshop continued to work thanks to the support of the State Institute in the 20th century. It created works of high technical and artistic quality in the 1920s.
Florentine mosaic art is one of the art conventions that flourished in Florence during the Renaissance. Its history is filled with a rich tradition of an innovative environment: architecture, design, painting, sculpture. The capital of the Tuscany region became known as the Cradle of the Renaissance. It is considered the most significant city in terms of its influence on the Italian Renaissance.
The golden age of Florentine art began at the turn of the second millennium. Florence has played an important role in the realization of the ideals of the Renaissance around the world due to the many talented artists. She financed and encouraged many artisans, allowing their talents to appear.
Materials
Initially, only precious and semiprecious stones were used to create the mosaic. With the development of the craft, craftsmen added popular and durable artificial materials. Mosaic made of stones is durable, natural bright paint does not fade from sunlight. Natural stone maintains color saturation. A smooth transition of shades on the material helps the master to perform a composition similar to the original picture.
Classic usage example: dark marble for the background combined with jasper, amethyst, turquoise will create the desired contrast. Elements become brighter in the black plane. Traces on stones (strokes, stains, stains) are the basis of this technique. The secret of the masters in changing the shade of the working tool is the effect of temperature. Heated marble acquires a delicate pink color scheme, chalcedony becomes brighter after heating. For work, plates are selected that mimic the foliage of trees with streaks, for the image of animals - a stone with a pattern of villi.
Glass
The glass surface of the panel has a smooth, holistic structure. Used to decorate decorative art, designs and furniture.
Glass mosaics are usually divided into two subcategories: for decorating walls and ceilings, furniture and accessories. The art form arose in the 1500s during the Nyaunyan era. Glass mosaic is combined with precious and semiprecious stones.
Ceramics
Paintings or finishes made of ceramics have the following advantages:
- strength, hardness,
- excellent wear resistance
- low thermal conductivity
- corrosion resistance
- electrical isolation
- chemical resistance
- excellent surface finish.
Florentine technique is often used from ceramics to create panels on walls or floors.
The material is glossy and matte. Mirror surface is used for walls., Gloss-free components are recommended for laying on the floor.
The final stage of the ceramic mosaic is grouting. Her role is to combine elements.
Features
The work performed by the Florentine method looks flawless. Details create a flat surface finish. Sized pieces of material hide the seams. Polishing stones, glass, and ceramics makes the surface sparkle.
Florentine mosaic has an abundance of colors. White, black, red, emerald, brown, yellow, blue tones allow you to create any work of art.
The materials used to perform this technique have special qualities:
- Moisture resistance. Water resistance does not allow water to pass through the panel. If moisture gets on the product, an ordinary sponge will cope with the task. Do not worry about mold or corrosion. These materials are used for lining pools, they withstand the effects of water elements.
- Frost resistance. The frost resistance of a mosaic is especially important for those who are going to decorate external open areas on the street. The porch and arbors are decorated in the Florentine style. Under the influence of snow or the weight of the ice layer, the material will remain intact.
- Uniqueness. In nature, there are no identical objects. If you need to copy a composition in the style of the Florentine technique, then complete similarities will not happen. The second such pattern will not work.
- Durability. Stone, ceramics, glass retain saturation of shades for decades. A painting painted with paints undergoes restoration, these durable materials will show overflows of paints throughout their entire service life.
However, works made in Florentine performance are a long and difficult job. It takes at least two months to create an exclusive canvas. Allow such luxury in the house can people with wealth. After all, such a canvas will be expensive.
Decoration with Florentine mosaics is used today in the church, as well as for decorating objects at home. Panels similar to picturesque paintings adorn the walls of large halls, cabinets, living rooms.
Manufacture
The master performs painstaking work with great patience. Each piece of material is different in size. It is cut out, formed, subjected to mechanical stress. Then again measured and re-processed until then, until he will not fully correspond to the dimensions for connection with the adjacent part. Craftsmen often devote hours to getting one piece of the puzzle.
The process of performing the technique is divided into three stages:
- material selection
- collection of mosaics (direct or reverse),
- polishing the surface.
Picking up stones it is worth considering the properties of the rock, since each mineral has an optical character. This is porosity, smoothness, brightness, color saturation.
To understand how the product will look after polishing, the material must be moistened with water.
In the 21st century, it’s possible to do this job faster with digital technology. The laser beam transfers the image from the computer without unnecessary errors and leaves the necessary margin at the edges of the element.
On prepared items make markings and cut parts on the machine. The thickness of the finished plates reaches 2-3 mm. The completion of the parts takes place on a machine for grinding parts. The inverse method for assembling the painting is to lay the elements face down using stencils. The assembled base is fixed with glue from the wrong side. This method is used for bulk work. The finishing touch is the grinding of the finished surface.
Direct image dialing method - laying parts on objects (countertop, chest, casket). Experienced craftsmen stack the fragments using the fixing layer. All laid out elements on the surface are treated with polishing paste.. Polishing is chosen different depending on the working material. The final decoration shows brilliance, overflow of shades on the artistic composition.
Florentine mosaic in the interior is used by people with high status. This design can be found in the decoration of the bathroom, pool and household items, it emphasizes the presence of taste.
For more information on Florentine mosaics, see the next video.
Formation and development of style in Russia
The complexity of the process, the duration of manufacture (the craftsmen worked on individual works for several years) and the use of semiprecious stones made this art elitist, courtly.Not every royal court could afford the maintenance of such a workshop.
Russian craftsmen mastered and developed this technique under Tsarina Elizabeth Petrovna, and many of their works worthy competed with Italian models. The development of this style in Russia is associated with the name of the master of the Peterhof lapidary factory Ivan Sokolov, who was trained in Florence. He masterfully used Siberian jasper, agate, quartz. Reminiscences of contemporaries about his works have been preserved, where the flowers laid out of stones seemed alive and fragrant.
The main centers for working with Florentine mosaics are the Peterhof, Yekaterinburg factories and the Kolyvan stone-cutting factory in Altai. Russian stone-cutters are beginning to widely use the most beautiful Ural gem malachite, which has an expressive pattern, and highly hard Altai minerals, the processing of which is possible only with diamond tools.
In the future, it was the artists of the Kolyvan Plant for the station in Barnaul who created one of the largest panels (46 sq. M.) Made in this technique.
Many beautiful mosaic "paintings" adorn the walls of the Moscow Metro and make it the pride of the capital.
Manufacturing method
The manufacturing process of the Florentine mosaic can be divided into three stages:
- procurement operations - selection of high-quality raw materials, marking of stone and its cutting,
- a set of mosaic elements - there are two ways: direct and reverse,
- finishing - finishing and polishing of the product.
When choosing a stone, it is very important to know and take into account its properties, since the direction of cut depends on this. Each mineral has its own individual optical characteristics, is poured in a special way in the light and has its own structure. The stone must be moistened with water, then it becomes bright, as after polishing, and you can understand how the finished product will look.
Selected stones are marked and cut on a special machine. During this process, cold water is poured abundantly to cool the saw and carefully monitor safety. Elements are cut with a margin for processing joints.
In our age of digital technology, laser cutting is increasingly being used, transferring a drawing from a computer without errors and with the necessary margin.
Florentine craftsmen cut the necessary fragments from thin, 2-3 mm thick plates using a special saw - a kind of bow from a bent elastic cherry branch with a taut wire. Some craftsmen continue to use this authentic tool today.
Finishing of individual parts along the contour is carried out on a grinding machine using a carborundum wheel or diamond faceplate, manually finished with diamond files.
When assembling the elements into the overall picture by the reverse method, mosaic fragments are laid face down on the stencils and secured from the inside with adhesive composition on the base (for example, fiberglass or tracing paper). This technology is convenient for creating a large-scale project: thus assembled large parts from small elements are then mounted in place. This method also allows you to grind the front surface of the mosaic in the workshop.
Direct dialing technique is laying fragments of a picture immediately on a permanent basis. Old craftsmen in place laid out pieces of chopped stone plates on a flattened fixing layer. Today, direct dialing, as well as reverse dialing, is most often done in workshops on a fiberglass base, and then transferred to the object.
The assembled product is processed using finishing and polishing pastes. Different polishing compositions are used for different types of stone, depending on the physical and mechanical properties of the mineral.
Finishing gives the stone a delightful brilliance, reveals all its modulations and shades.
Using Florentine Mosaic Today
The high decorativeness of Florentine mosaics has long been appreciated by architects. In the Soviet period, the use of various types of mosaics for public buildings experienced its heyday. Mostly panels were made of smalt, but the Florentine method was also not forgotten and was actively used. And since this technique is the most durable, since years have not dominated stone paintings, they still look like new.
In modern interiors, a correctly selected Florentine mosaic will not look like an alien and obsolete element. Magnificent patterned panels for walls and floors in the hall, bathroom, kitchen can be entered both in the classical style and in modern, they will revive a strict hi-tech or loft. Will look great mosaic paintings in the decoration of the pool or terrace in a country house.
Small forms of this mosaic also look interesting: decorating caskets, mirrors, gift writing sets for an office, and so on.
This technique is also widely used in jewelry: large brooches, earrings, rings, pendants with a set of stone patterns bear a special appeal of natural material.
Despite technological progress, the Florentine mosaic method still remains laborious and man-made, so these works are quite expensive, and the price of the best samples is comparable to the cost of masterpieces of classical painting.
The master talks even more about the art of “stone painting” in the next video.
