MOSAIC ARTIST, Italian
(active 4th century in Rome)

Vault decoration (detail)

4th century
Mosaic
Santa Costanza, Rome

These mosaics on the barrel vault depict secular themes - patterns of found objects scattered with fruit, birds, vessels, foliage, with intertwining grape vines and cupids engaged in the harvest of grapes. These motifs were not uncommon in Roman houses. But what had been Bacchic motifs now in a Christian context allude to the Eucharist. There are also two portrait heads, with the female perhaps representing Constantina.




© Web Gallery of Art, created by Emil Krén and Daniel Marx.