Roman Mosaics - Origin, Methods, Subjects and Famous Examples
Art was essential to Roman life. Whether in public spaces or private homes, people were immersed in depictions of mythology, nature, and life every day. As different art forms developed, practitioners honed their craft and evolved with the times to render breathtaking images.
Mosaics are some of the most enduring pieces of Roman art. These images are composed of hundreds or thousands of carefully placed tiles or stones that formed a larger image. Mosaics were primarily placed on the floor and intended to be art pieces that were walked over. Romans were expected to appreciate the art from every angle.
Origin of Roman Mosaics
Roman mosaics were largely influenced by the Hellenistic and Greek mosaics, which focused on scenes from mythology and memorializing historic figures. While mosaics had existed since early Mesopotamia, the Romans took this form of art from the Greeks and transitioned it into a more formal practice. The first mosaics created during the Roman Republic are dated to the second century BC. They involved the use of pebbles and other small stones to create basic scenes or silhouetted portraits.
Over time, Roman artists refined their technique to create vivid depictions of both actual and mythological events. Many of the most intact surviving mosaics are found in Pompeii and Herculaneum, and date from the early first century BC right up to those cities' destruction in 79 AD.
Methods and Technology
Once a location for the mosaic was selected, the designer would prep the site. As mentiond earlier, Roman mosaics were most often placed on the floor. They were sometimes placed on walls, but that space was usually reserved for paintings and, later, frescoes. Smaller mosaics were often placed on columns, fountains, and vaults to further adorn the structures or note special significance. This was especially common in Roman baths.
During the late Empire, designers began applying mosaics to ceilings and domes. Oftentimes they would incorporate glass into these installations to brighten rooms by reflecting either daylight or artificial light from lamps. Romans may have also utilized the stone used in mosaics as a form of climate control to keep rooms cool in the hot summer months.
The base of the mosaic would be prepped with mortar. Romans created their mosaics using tesserae, which were uniform square tiles made from stone, cut brick, tile, or pottery. Generally, the tesserae were black, white, blue, red, or yellow. They were only 0.5 to 1.5 cm long, allowing artists to render striking and highly detailed images.
The tiles were arranged to either form a geometric pattern or depict a scene, creature, or individual. The mosaics were usually monochromatic but may have featured additional colors as an accent. Once the tiles were laid, the artist would then fill in any gaps with additional mortar, clean the surface, and polish the mosaic.
In opulent private homes or for major installations, marble, precious stones, or even gold may have been used in place of tesserae or as a supplemental accent piece. As the Roman empire expanded and access to new building materials emerged, mosaic techniques and style evolved to incorporate novel substitutes for the tiles.
Common Subjects
The subjects of mosaics were largely consistent throughout the Empire, but did have some regional variation in the provinces.
For much of its history, mosaics in the city of Rome itself were black and white. They tended to depict seascapes and geometric patterns. However, mosaics in Antioch and other parts of the Eastern Roman Empire tended toward two-dimensional depictions and recurring motifs that established an intricate carpeting appearance across floors.
Mosaics in Roman North Africa often depicted scenes of nature and daily life while also incorporating sweeping scenes of hunts, myths, or athletic competitions.
Religion
Early Roman mosaics featured scenes of the gods, particularly those significant to the respective locality or region. Reveling scenes of Dionysus were also very common throughout the Empire. They were often stirring depictions of pivotal stories of the gods' life. Christians in the later Roman period adopted the mosaic style to depict Christ.
Portraiture
Historically significant individuals and influential people from Greek or Roman history were often depicted in mosaics.
The earliest mosaics were done monochromatically and featured relative abstract approximations of their subject. The style emphasized the person's role and place as much as their individuality.
As the Romans embraced the art form and made it their own, their technique sharpened. Eventually, portraits were done with the smallest possible tesserae to mimic painting. Now, Roman artists were able to craft vivid portraits that illuminated significant individuals.
Geometric Designs
Geometric mosaics were displayed all across the Roman empire. They comprized highly intricate maze-like designs meant to capture the eye and create a labyrinthian effect. Geometric mosaics were especially common in bathhouses and often feature a mythical character or story at their center.
Famous Roman Mosaics
Alexander Mosaic at the House of the Faun
Probably the most famous Roman mosaic, this piece is located at the House of the Faun in Pompeii. Embodying the strong Greek influence on Roman art, the mosaic is a reproduction of a Hellenistic painting done by Philoxenus or Aristeides. It depicts a scene from the Battle of Issus (333 BCE) in which Alexander the Great on horseback faces off with Darius III on his war chariot.
Mosaics of the Villa Romana del Casale
A UNESCO world heritage site, the Villa Romana del Casale boasts some of the most well-preserved Roman mosaics. The villa is believed to have been the residence of a Roman senator who also worked in the exotic animal trade.
The mosaics cover over 35,000 square feet, and many are composed of marble and glass, with clear influences from the North African region. The countless mosaics depict athletic scenes, daily life, hunting scenes, fishing, chariot races, sweeping mythological scenes, and geometric patterns. Virtually every room, including the servants' quarters and storage areas, is adorned with mosaics consistent with a specific theme.
The Gladiator Mosaic
This famous mosaic was found just outside of Rome and was assembled in the early 4th century AD. The Gladiator Mosaic measures over 90 feet long and is polychromatic. It features highly detailed scenes of gladiators engaged in combat with each other and animals. There are depictions of bulls, antelope, ostriches, lions, and panthers.
Many of the gladiators are named in it. Most famously, Alumnus is depicted killing Mazicianus.
