mosaics

Mosaics are artworks created by assembling small pieces, called tesserae, of glass, stone, ceramic, or other materials into a larger image or pattern. The tesserae are set in a binding medium such as mortar or concrete and grouted to form a continuous surface. The technique ranges from precise, regular grids to irregular, micro-sized pieces; the arrangement and material choices influence color, texture, and durability. The term tessera comes from Latin tessera, meaning a cube or piece.

Origins trace to ancient Mesopotamia and the Aegean region, with floor and wall decorations in Greek and Roman villas. In the late antique and medieval periods, mosaics achieved new splendor in the Byzantine world, notably in Hagia Sophia and the mosaics of Ravenna’s churches, often with gold backgrounds and luminous shading. Islamic artisans developed intricate geometric and vegetal patterns with glass and ceramic tesserae, evident in mosques and palaces across the Middle East and Iberia. During the Renaissance and later periods, mosaics appeared in secular as well as sacred contexts. In the modern era, mosaic practices have continued worldwide, embracing new materials such as smalti glass, mirrored pieces, and recycled ceramics.

Techniques include opus tessellatum (regular grid), opus vermiculatum (fine, curved outlines), and opus sectile (larger pieces cut to shapes). Surfaces include floors, walls, ceilings, domes, and outdoor spaces. Iconic examples include the Battle of Issus mosaic from Pompeii, the late antique mosaics of San Vitale in Ravenna, and the domed and apse mosaics of Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. In the modern era, artists such as Antoni Gaudí popularized decorative mosaic forms using the trencadís technique in Park Güell and Sagrada Família. Mosaics remain a durable, versatile medium for public art, religious spaces, and contemporary installations, with restoration addressing fragility and material aging.