Emperor Hadrian's Mosaic of the Doves

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The Capitoline Mosaic of the Doves was discovered in 1737 during archaeological excavations of Emperor Hadrian’s Villa.

The Doves Mosaic unearthed in 1737 at Hadrian's Villa.

While some scholars believe this beauty is the actual Dove Mosaic built by the famous 2nd century BC Sosus of Pergamon and mentioned by Pliny in his Natural History, others believe it to be a 2nd century AD copy of it made for Hadrian.

Numerous copies were made of this mosaic, even into late antiquity. In addition to Tivoli, these have been found at Delos; at Pompeii and Capua...

Doves Mosaic unearthed in Pompeii 1st century BC

In other parts of the Empire and in the Christian mausoleums of Santa Costanza in Rome and Galla Placidia in Ravenna. 

Doves Mosaic with svastika borders in Malta, 1st century.

Doves Mosaic from Ostia Antica, 1st Century BC

  

Doves Mosaic - Mausoleo of Galla Placidia, 5th Century AD

I consider the finest of all to be the emblema discovered at Hadrian’s Villa, made of thousands of very small tesserae - 2 to 3 mm squares, a technique named  opus vermiculatum, by far the most sophisticated mosaic technique.

A fragment of the outside border of this mosaic is displayed at the Musee d'Arles Antique this summer. 

Fragment from the border of the Capitoline Doves mosaic

The tesserae used to build this border were no bigger than 3 mm (0.11"). Usually this size of tessera was only used for the center piece - the emblema, and regular Opus Tessellatum built from bigger tesserae was used for the borders. Hadrian was a protector of the Arts. Those kind of Chef d'Oeuvre were only assembled in a couple of very specialized workshops of the Empire by very highly skilled craftsmen.

 

Those variations of a same pattern are an other example of the way ancient musivarii worked. I believe they had  books or scrolls of models for the architets or patrons to chose from. In some cases, several patterns were mixed in a same mosaic (I will write something later about the parrot you can see in the lower right corner of the piece from Ostia...)

One reason why I am visiting many sites and museums in Europe is that I am putting together a library of geometric patterns used by the Romans. This is taking quite some time as those patterns are anything but simple. They are, however, gorgeous, and they bring to any center piece the same depth a vibrant frame brings to a painting. 

I am a French mosaicist

living in Headland, Alabama, USA.

My Art is about inspiring people.

You can see some of my work at www.mosaicblues.com

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Convergences

Sometimes, different people create very similar work of arts, or scientific theories.  And it is not always a matter of one copying the other. 

I discovered today this gorgeous mosaic : 

Work of Oliver Richard Budd, who explains in this page how he built that beautiful composition.

It immediately reminded me of this piece from the House of the Faun in Pompeii.

Materials and compositions are different, but both pieces are about the bounty of the ocean, which from immemorial times has been symbolizing the mother of all life; spiritual mystery; death and / or rebirth; timelessness and eternity... 

How do you feel about this ? Do you feel a connection between both piece ? And then, if you do, how would you explain it ?

I am a modern mosaic artist with a deep admiration for ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine Arts. You can see my own mosaics on my site at mosaicblues. 

If you are interested by my work or would like to drop me a line please contact me by email at frederic.lecut@gmail.com or by phone at (334) 798 1639. 

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August 24, 79

1935 years ago, on August 24, 79 AD, it was another beautiful summer morning in the towns of Pompeii and Herculanum around Mount Vesuvius, Italy.

By 1:00 PM, Mount Vesuvius exploded in what is considered as one of the most catastrophic eruption in European history.

Downwind from the Volcano Pompeii was slowly covered with pumice stones and ashes. The weight made many building collapse while upwind Herculanum was originally spared. 

After several hours of this stony rain, in a second eruptive phase during the night or early on August 25, extremely fast pyroclastic surges engulfed the area South and West of the Volcano. Herculanum was quasi instantly buried under 75 feet of Pyroclastic material. Its buildings did not even have time to collapse. 

It is estimated that 16,000 people were killed by the eruption. (This is the size of the population of Alabama's Henry County where I live)... 

The whole region was buried under ashes and eruptive materials and forgotten for 15 centuries. 

60 years after the events, no one was left knowing where Pompeii had ever been located.

One of the most horrific natural catastrophy of European History... 

And yet, because of this infamous event, such beauty was preserved.

Neptune and Amphitrite mosaic, Herculanum.

This colourful piece is fully executed with glass paste tesserae, which was uncommon at this period and a good indication of the wealth of the family living in this house. 

The House of Neptune in Herculanum

Because Herculanum was almost instantly covered with an extremely hot pyroclastic surge, its buildings did not even have time to collapse. THis is why we still have numerous wall mosaics in Herculanum, which we do not find in Pompeii.

In Pompeii, the weight of ashes and pumice stone slowly falling from the sky destroyed the buildings. Most of the preserved mosaics are floor ones such as the Alexander Mosaic found in the "House of the Faun"  representing the battle of Issus between Alexander king of Macedonia and Darius emperor of the Persians.

Emperor Darius  in the Alexander Mosaic, Pompeii

The House of the Faun built during the 2nd century BC, was one of the largest, and most impressive private residences in Pompei, and housed many great pieces of art. It is one of the most luxurious aristocratic houses from the Roman Republic. Only the pillars supporting the roof were left.

The Fish Mosaic was also part of the House of the Faun. This remarkable piece accurately represents over 13 species of sea creatures. Similar mosaics were found in other houses of Pompeii.

The Romans began using mosaics during the 2nd century BC. They borrowed the technique from the Greeks they had conquered. Greek mosaicists came to Rome and worked there - as freemen or slaves - for their new masters. 

With the conquest of the Mediterranean world by the Republic, luxury items from all over the Ancient world converged toward Rome. After Cesar's death in 44 BC, the republic was abolished, and with it a certain frugal lifestyle. Wealthy "Nouveau Riche" patrons of the Empire built for themselves luxury residences. Mosaics such as the ones found in Pompeii and Herculanum were in high demand and quickly highly talented mosaicist masters and apprentices were trained in various parts of the Empire to work on the new palaces' floors and walls.  

Their mastery of their Art is clear in the above pictures. 

Today, 2000 years later, when standing in front of one of my pieces I am putting together on its bench, I sometimes become aware of the sense of focus and solitude, the intense concentration on the work I experience; time is - at least partially - abolished. And somehow I feel this is how these master craftsmen were feeling. Somehow, I am now one of them. I use some of the very same tools and moves they used, and through these moves I am in communion with them. 

And THIS, my little friends, is one more reason why I love mosaics ! 

Who knows, maybe I was one of these guys...

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If you are interested in purchasing one of my mosaics, would like to commission a special project or to simply discuss the wonderful art of modern and ancient mosaics, please contact me by email at frederic.lecut@gmail.com or by phone at (334) 798 1639 or visit my remodeled Mosaicblues Website