Large Micromosaic Cross Very Presumptuous...

Why presumptuous in the title: the silver medal with the effigy of Pope Pius XI is placed in a halo above Christ... that is to say... This brass crucifix marked on the back 1929, is enhanced with four medallions representing the monuments of Rome. Cross decorated with the fantastic technique of micromosaic A pasted copy below gives many details, if you want... "INFO: Rediscovered during the Renaissance in favor of a renewed interest in Antiquity, the art of mosaic is intimately linked to places of worship and the opulent houses of rich Roman patricians. But, it was in the 18th century that this meticulous technique took on a whole new dimension. The invention of micro-mosaic: In 1731, the chemist and glassmaker Alessio Mattioli developed a recipe combining marble powder (or more likely gypsum), linseed oil, pigments, and a vitrifiable mixture. This flexible and stretchable paste allows the formation of thin rods that are then cut into very small pieces. These pieces then form tesserae called smalti filati in Italian. The mosaicist then prepares his support, in metal or stone for example, and composes the broad outlines of his design. Then, patiently, he draws from a wide palette of colors to compose the motif, the virtuosity of which is judged by the quality of the models and the finesse of the details. It is through this mastery of design and color that the mosaicist can rival the painter. Some even became true masters in this discipline, like Giacomo Raffaelli (1753 – 1836). Especially since at the end of the 18th century, there were no fewer than 15,000 shades of smalti filati in certain workshops, such as that of the Vatican. Some colors even achieved a little celebrity, such as lattimo (a shade of white), rubbino (ruby), lacca (madder) or giallo (a characteristic yellow). Once the micro-mosaic was finished, the work, often of small dimensions, was polished, waxed and then set in a metal frame. While the Roman workshops were the most famous, there were also remarkable ones in Florence and Venice.