Great moments in decorative mosaic art
(4 min read) American artist Jeff Koons once said, “Art has this ability to allow you to connect back through history in the same way that biology does. I’m always looking for source material.” This is especially true for mosaics, a creative tradition that dates back millennia.
For us to better appreciate mosaics, we must look back on its storied past. From its long history and master creators to world capitals and notable works, revisiting the colorful and multifaceted history of decorative mosaic art allows us to treasure the ingenuity and hard work that goes into the most contemporary of designs.
In the beginning
Mosaics have been a popular art form in both Western and Eastern cultures across the globe for thousands of years. The earliest mosaics have been found in a temple in Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq) dating back to 3000 BCE. Made with ivory, seashells, and stones, these decorative, yet abstract pieces would pave the way for mosaics in Ancient Greece and Rome.
Ancient Greeks
The ancient Greeks in 400 BCE raised the early pebble technique in decorative mosaic art to a fine craft, with precise geometric patterns and detailed scenes of people and animals. According to ancient Roman historian Pliny the Younger, Sosos was one of the most renowned mosaic artists in antiquity. None of his work survives to this day; however, Roman copies tell of Sosos’ ability to create trompe l’oeil effects that created an optical illusion or three-dimensional effect.
Roman Empire
The ancient mosaic as it is widely known today came into fruition during the Roman Empire. Eager to adopt the artistic culture of the ancient Greeks, the Romans further refined the mosaic craft and transformed the art from exclusive to commonplace. Using more advanced technology, the Romans also made tiles more uniform in size and shape for easier application. This allowed for greater detail and realism.
Byzantine Empire and Medieval Period
From the 4th century until the Renaissance, decorative mosaic art lavishly ornamented Christian churches. Ethereal glass mosaic crafts adorned the ceilings and floors of these places of worship. Intricately detailed and glimmering with gold leaf and precious stones, these mosaics were meant to amaze churchgoers and pilgrims with portraits of biblical figures and early saints. During the Renaissance, however, the mosaic as an art form waned. Artists shunned the extravagance of religious mosaics, and painting gradually became the preferred medium.
Islamic architecture
Mosaics were a widely used form of decoration not only in Europe but in the Middle East as well. Highly geometric patterns are a staple of Islamic architecture, especially in the 7th and 8th centuries. These mosaics often featured repeating, mathematical, and symmetrical forms and vibrant colors that appeared in both the interiors and exteriors of mosques and other structures.
Modern era
Mosaics crafts were revived centuries later by modern artists at the turn of the 20th century. Great masters such as Antonio Gaudi helped keep the ancient art form alive and later influenced contemporary mosaicists. Other renowned artists such as Gustav Klimt would be inspired by Byzantine mosaics in painting their canvases.
Mosaics today
Mosaics are in a healthy state in the 21st century. They are used as kitchen backsplashes, craft projects, garden art, fine art, sculpture, as well as in public art. Just like in ancient times, they are still a striking way to accent the home, creating the feel of a grand villa.
For timeless, modern, or avant-garde mosaic designs, visit Mosaics Lab. We specialize in authentic and handmade mosaic art pieces brought to life by artisans who have mastered their craft for generations.
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36 Comments
How gorgeous. I am loving these colors. These are so many amazing mosaics out there.
So beautiful, thank you for sharing these!
I love how informative this post is! My family loves History. We also enjoy art and the history behind it.
I always find it amazing when I see mosaics depicting art. I can’t imagine the thought process of creating a mosaic as big as these. It must have been taxing.
This artwork is stunning! It’s amazing how talented people are. Thanks so much for sharing.
This history was so cool to learn. I love that this art has been around a long time.
I was really impressed with mosaic cones. I’ve never heard of them. So much I am learning from your posts.
So many beautiful renditions! I’m both amazed and happy to know that they are thriving through the ages. Mosaics are truly amazing and unique art.
Such great artworks! Love all of these.
Wow! It never crossed my mind to check on the history of mosaic art. There is so much to it all around the world. Thanks for making it easy for us. It was fun seeing its evolution.
wow – love the art pieces. Would definitely make a great conversation starter at one of my parties
This is just outstanding, knowing how mosaics are part of the old, old history.
My favorite is the Dionysos riding a leopard.
Wow! That’s a lot of history there. Just look at the attention to details! Interesting read.
All these are so authentic yet beautiful. Loved the lion one!
this may be weird, but that Roman chicken is my favorite! It is really pretty, and simple, yet beautiful! Stunning!
Love the mosaic with Muḥaqqaq inscription and scrolls. It’s gorgeous!
You will pardon me if I flaunt my degree in Art History (UMASS, 1987) and enjoy commenting on the history of “mosaics” in art. How can one ignore a technique that dates back to 3000 BCE. And what a technique it is: broken ivory, seashells, stone, and in modern art…practically anything the artist can get their hands on. become luminous, shimmery objects that evolve into revered images that dot the ceilings of churches across the globe and modern pieces that this website presents to happy viewers.
It’s why I come back again and again.
Totally enjoyed reading your post about decorative art in mosaics and how it has been featured over time and in history. So interesting to see the pieces being featured as well
These are all so nice to look at. Especially Dionysus riding the leopard, looks very “royal” and beautiful. Thanks for posting!
These are so beautiful, love seeing the differences in time/local. The Gaudi lizard is my favorite, I’m totally inspired to try some mosaic art with my kids now!!
I always admire these types of artwork. It allows me to see the beauty of the work from within.
I have always been fascinated by mosaics used in Islamic culture, it greatly affected my own vision of beauty growing up. Greek mosaic is my favorite from the times of old. I have seen a lot in Cyprus in mint condition, it was my favorite break from sport
The designs are amazing. I like mosaic, making it as decorative.
They all look pretty. However, my favorite is the wall cone mosaic art.
I totally enjoyed this post and love the history behind the art of mosaics. Very interesting and I am a serious history buff so I find this totally Coll and very interesting 🙂
Ancient Roman, Greek, byzantine art is a very broad topic and and fascinating. There is a great appreciation for aesthetic beauty and the philosophical theory behind it.
So many beautiful pieces of artwork here. I love mosaic tiling and could scroll through it for hours. Thank you for sharing this with us!
OMG, I love the blue one. Reminds me of Samarkand. I always enjoy our posts!
I love reading this post about decorative mosaics art. I love the Lion one!
Mosaic is a very tedious and time-consuming part, but all the works are worth it. Imagine spending heaps of time and energy designing and conceptualizing each piece, and the materials needed. No wonder it is magnificent!
I loved reading this and seeing the evolution of mosaic. Mosaic is such a beautiful and expressive form of art. Love it!
What a great and informative read! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us and these beautiful pieces to compliment your post. I like that these pieces tell a story and they have withstood time and are still being talked about. History can be found anywhere.
These are absolutely stunning! I love that they still exist for us to see. Thank you for sharing these!
These are absolutely stunning! I love that they still exist for us to see. Thank you for sharing these!
Such an amazing work of art.. love them