The art of mosaic has fascinated and embellished sacred and profane places for centuries, but few know how much this technique has been perfected and refined to reach the pinnacle of its expression. This is the central theme of The Invention of the Yarn Mosaic , the new work by Veronika Maria Seifert, author and historian, and Paolo di Buono, director of the Vatican Mosaic Studio.
This technical manual aims to become an essential text in the decorative arts sector, offering a detailed overview of the historical and technical aspects of mosaic. The long archival research, in particular on the documents of the Archive of the Fabbrica di San Pietro, has allowed the authors to tell the extraordinary story of the mosaics that decorate St. Peter's Basilica, and beyond.
But why choose mosaic as the main decorative method? While paintings tended to get ruined by humidity, in the Vatican there was an aspiration to create eternal works. This desire to perpetuate art led to the choice of mosaic, whose tiny tiles manage to perfectly recreate the effect of the brushstrokes. Therefore, since the sixteenth century, some of the major Italian artists have contributed to the creation of the mosaics in the Basilica, choosing this technique for its durability over time.
The mosaic technique has evolved over the centuries. Initially, the use of tiles that were too large did not do justice to the original pictorial intent. Therefore, as time passed, this technique was refined, leading to the birth of the spun mosaic. The term derives from the technique used to create it: very thin rods of glass paste are stretched hot like threads and then cut into small pieces.
The first to use spun mosaic were the artists Provenzale and Calandra in the first half of the seventeenth century, although for a long time it was believed that its first use dated back to the eighteenth century . This innovation marked an important step in the history of mosaic, allowing for a level of detail and precision that was previously unthinkable.
The text also offers a fascinating account of the two centuries of history of the Vatican Mosaic Studio, an institution that continues to be a point of reference for mosaicists from all over the world. Even today, this technique is counted among the most sophisticated and complex, demonstrating how the ancient art of mosaic is able to evolve and adapt to the times without losing its essence.
The invention of the yarn mosaic is not only a tribute to the beauty and mastery of mosaic, but also a testimony to the continuous commitment and passion of those who, over the centuries, have dedicated their lives to this noble art. A work that will fascinate not only professionals, but also all those who love art and history.