Thursday, 9 June 2011

The Origin and Development of Mosaic Art

By Leon S. Hooper


Mosaic art has been around for centuries but as far as how it has involved or even survived, very little can be stated with certainty. It first appeared in random countries and cultures which explains why it is next to impossible to pin down its origin. However, what is widely believed is that it sprung from somewhere within the Orient. One of the very first peices of Mosaics is considered to be borne from a civilisation in Mesopotamia, the Chaldeans which dates as far back as 4000BC. All that remains from this piece are painted columns covered by mosaics.

We began to see developments in this art form in the 8th century BC. Stones of numerous colours created patterns which could be seen on pebble pavements. There was more emphasis on aesthetics than on structure at this point.

The Greeks developed mosiac art further, in the 4th century BC. Through geometric patterns, they created scenes with people and animals. They were aided by the Romans in improving the standards of mosaic art which was more impressive due to a seemingly decrease of artistic skill. We would see floors decorated with mosaic images of religious celebrations as well as more domestic themes.

The next significant development was by the Byzantine Empire and their civilisation in the 5th century AD. We began to see more aspects of its personality as it began to draw upon more influences from the East and glass tesserae. As opposed to floors, it was now more frequently to be seen on ceilings and walls with more religious themes along with portraits of emperors.

Today, mosaic art is appreciated by art lovers everywhere. It captures the contributions from numerous civilisations. It forms a connection with the modern world by combing ancestral secrets with the technical skills of our heart-felt artists to being some fine mosaic art to life. It inspires and adds a feeling of warmth to any scene in which it graces with its presence.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment