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Large Micromosaic View of the Roman Forum with Its Original Frame, c. 1840-1850

Exhibited by Alessandra Di Castro

Material Micromosaic

Dimensions 45.7 x 85 cm (framed 62.5 x 102 cm), 18 x 33.4 in (framed 24.6 x 40 in)

Place of Creation Rome

Status Vetted

About the Work

The micromosaic is of exceptional rarity, owing to its considerable dimensions, particularly in terms of its artistic quality and the minute size of the tesserae that compose it. The artwork offers a view of the Roman Forum as it was towards the middle of the 19th century and it takes its iconographical inspiration from an engraving by Ravenna-born Luigi Rossini (1790 – 1857) entitled "Roman Forum, view from the corner of the Tabularium on the Clivus Capitolinus". The micromosaic is distinguished by its horizontal format which allows us to observe not only the ancient Roman ruins but also 19th century buildings sitting comfortably in the surrounding landscape.

In the foreground we see the Corinthian columns of the Temple of Vespasian, the Church of Santi Luca e Martina, the Arch of Septimius Severus and the Temple of Saturn. To the left of the central area, which is in the process of being excavated, we catch a glimpse of the Curia Julia, the Column of Focas and the pronaos of the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina with the church and convent of Santa Francesca Romana behind it. And finally, on the right, the three columns of the Temple of Castor and Pollux stand before modern buildings nestling up against the Palatine, while the vast mass of the Colosseum looms in the middle distance.

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Provenance

Private Collection

Literature

Bibliography: M. G. Branchetti, Collezione Savelli. Mosaici minuti romani, Rome, Gangemi Editore, 2004, p. 125.

Exhibition: Lo Sguardo del Tempo-Il Foro Romano in Età Moderna, Parco Archeologico del Colosseo, Temple of Romulus, November 21st, 2023-July 30th, 2024.