MOSAIC ARTIST, Italian
(active 1140s in Murano)

Pavement

1141
Mosaic
Santi Maria e Donato, Murano

The pavement, in mosaic with round wheel shapes and large slabs of Greek marble, has particular compositional rigour, with no concessions to animal or phytomorphic figures. This type of pavements were introduced to Italy by the mosaic and stone cutting skill of master craftsmen from Constantinople.

The present picture shows a detail of pavement in mosaic and 'opus sectile' (paving of thin slabs of coloured marble cut in geometric shapes). The inscription in the middle specifies the date of the creation: 1141.