This page was created by Margaret McCracken. 

OLD Art in an Early Global World at WAM: A WAM/College of the Holy Cross Collaboration

Floor Mosaic Process

How was this floor mosaic made?

Mosaics are made of hundreds or thousands of small pieces laid into a bed of mortar. Step up close to the piece to see these pixels. 
The small pieces are called tesserae. They can be made of a variety of materials but because this one was a surface people walked on it is made of durable stone. The stone could be from a local supply or acquired through trade. The artist can make the small tiles the size and shape he needs by lightly hammering a larger piece against a chisel.

Floor mosaics have a four layer foundation according to Vitruvius, an architect from the period. Each layer is mostly made of lime mortar and pieces of brick of different consistencies getting finer each layer so the top one is fine grained and easy to place tesserae into it (see videos below). The artist could plan his/her image before placing pieces using simple technology of the time such as taut lines and compasses to make neat lines and curves. Choosing colors and shapes, (s)he evidently laid the outline of the forms first and then working with graduated shades filled them and then the background in. Look how the figures where outlined and then the cream background follows those curves rather than in a grid pattern. 

The Art Institute of Chicago Videos:

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