A species of mosaic work resembling enamels in appearance was executed by the Egyptians, a method in which stones and coloured pastes were cut to fit into metal shapes, as may be seen in the pectoral ornaments and diadems (see Figs. 142, 143, former volume).
In the Museum of Turin there is an Egyptian sarcophagus inlaid with precious stones, but it can hardly be called true mosaic work.
The Greeks were very skilful in mosaic, and were doubtless the inventors of the enamels used by themselves and by the Romans afterwards under the name of musivum—from whence the word mosaic is derived. The Italians called these enamels smalto or smalts.
Nearly all the remains of antique mosaic that have been preserved to our days have been executed in Italy or in countries that were under the Roman sway, but usually the work has been done by Greek artists or under Grecian influence.
Fig. 286.—Roman Mosaic, from Woodchester.
Pliny mentions the name of Sosus, a Greek artist, who came to Italy to execute mosaics. To this artist is ascribed the celebrated mosaic of the doves perched on the rim of a basin—Cantharos—one of which is drinking from the water in the vessel. This mosaic is now in the Capitol at Rome, and came originally from the Villa of Hadrian. It is related by Pliny that Sosus made a floor in mosaic decorated with fragments of a repast, such as realistic representations of the remains of bones, vegetables, fish, a mouse gnawing at a nut, &c.
Great pavements, with all kinds of animated figures, both realistic and fanciful, representing combats of animals, fighting gladiators, circus and hunting scenes, with the figures sometimes of life size, in combination with allegorical subjects, tritons, nereids, and other marine deities, were common in the antique period in Italy.
Fig. 287.—Roman Mosaic, found at Avignon.