Mosaic; Rome, 3rd-4th century AD.

Mosaic; Rome, 3rd-4th century A.D.
Marble and stone tesserae.
Measurements: 90 x 71 cm; 96 x 77 cm (frame).
Mosaic made with marble tesserae and stones representing a female portrait accompanied by an inscription in Greek. The bust is framed with a border of interlaced lines. It is evident that this work was part of a larger mosaic, probably being part of the ornamentation of a large villa, honoring with the design the figure of the owner. The art of mosaic came to Rome from Greece, and soon became a whole industry, reaching heights of quality never seen before. It became so widespread that it became the main decoration of any Roman villa or house. In Rome, mosaics were built from small pieces called tesserae (hence the name "opus tessellatum"), cubic-shaped pieces of calcareous rocks, glass or ceramic, of different sizes. These tesserae were arranged on the surface to be decorated like a jigsaw puzzle, distributing the color and shape according to the design, and fixed with cement. The importance of mosaic manufacture is demonstrated by facts such as the facilities granted by Constantine to the mosaicists in 330 when he moved the capital from Byzantium, favoring the exodus of Greek and Roman masters to the new capital, thus laying the foundations of the famous Byzantine mosaic.