Most art lovers would be horrified to learn that a beautiful work of art had been trampled by dirty shoes or bare feet, but that is exactly what happened to a type of ancient art known as the Roman mosaic. Many of the mosaics’ colorful and intricate designs were found on ceilings and walls, but they were also found on floors in homes and public places. The Roman mosaic was made by skilled craftsmen who often worked in groups, with the most skilled worker designing or planning the design. The person with the least experience worked on the plain white spaces that surround the colorful details of the mosaic design.
A Roman mosaic can be as simple as a geometric pattern or as intricate as mosaics depicting gods and goddesses or other themes. The larger image depicted in a Roman mosaic is made up of many small, brightly colored pieces that were meticulously arranged to create the desired image. When creating mosaics, Roman artists used a variety of materials, including glass, gold leaf, seashells, pebbles, and terra cotta tiles.
Many ancient Roman mosaics have survived the centuries, particularly those designed to be walked on. Others have survived to the present day as a decorative surface or adornment. Some Roman mosaics served a purpose; for example, a mosaic might have been installed on the wall of a shop to indicate what was for sale, such as fish. A mosaic of a seahorse could have been found in a public bath. Mosaics were placed at tomb sites, including the Vatican’s tombs.
Tesserae are the small pieces that were carefully placed to create a mosaic. Even within the same design, the pieces were of varying sizes. If Roman mosaic artists used larger tesserae, they could create a mosaic faster. Many of these works were made for the wealthy, who could afford to pay for the amount of labor and skill that was required.
After Greek artisans arrived in Italy and brought the design form with them, Roman craftsmen began to create mosaics. The Romans spread the art form across their empire, even as far as the British Isles, where some examples can still be found today. A Roman mosaic was discovered in England in 1960, but was later buried under a parking lot. The mosaic has become the main attraction at a new museum, The Novium, after being recognized as a valuable find.