Fan
1790-1820 (made)
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The fan depicts the tomb of Cecilia Metella, fourth wife of the Roman dictator Lucius Cornelius Sylla (r. 82-79 BC), which was one of the sights along the Appian Way. The theme of love is explored through the mosaic amorini and doves on the mounts, encircled by trailing roses, pansies and strands of wheat.
The term 'micromosaic' is used to describe mosaics made of the smallest glass pieces. Some micromosaics contain more than 5000 pieces per square inch. The earliest attempts at micromosaic revealed visible joins between the pieces (known as tesserae) and a lack of perspective. Later artists such as Antonio Aguatti made huge advances in micromosaic technique, resulting in renderings that were truer to life. Glass micromosaic technique developed in the 18th century, in the Vatican Mosaic Workshop in Rome, where they still undertake restoration work today.
Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.
The term 'micromosaic' is used to describe mosaics made of the smallest glass pieces. Some micromosaics contain more than 5000 pieces per square inch. The earliest attempts at micromosaic revealed visible joins between the pieces (known as tesserae) and a lack of perspective. Later artists such as Antonio Aguatti made huge advances in micromosaic technique, resulting in renderings that were truer to life. Glass micromosaic technique developed in the 18th century, in the Vatican Mosaic Workshop in Rome, where they still undertake restoration work today.
Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Painted parchment, vellum, bone, brass and leather |
| Brief description | Fan with scene of Tomb of Cecilia Metella, Rome. Micromosaic, hardstone, painted parchment , 1790-1820. |
| Physical description | A semi-circular fan of painted parchment or vellum with a central kidney-shaped reserve containing a picture of a tomb and a landscape between two vertical panels with birds and arabesques, the top and lower borders with leafy vines and scrolls on a blue ground, and the extreme top edge with a narrow gilt border. There are three oval mosaic subjects on the outer stick or guard. |
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| Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
| Object history | With Graus Antiques, London, 1977 Historical significance: The tomb of Cecilia Metella, a favourite Roman heroine, was frequently depicted in Roman Art and is featured on a large Gilbert hardstone picture displayed in the Study Area of Gallery 72 (LOAN:GILBERT.77:1,2-2008 and in a micromosaic on the cover of a bonbonniere. |
| Historical context | The mosaics on the fan sticks show doves, the attributes of Venus, Goddess of Love and amorini riding goats, holding a garland signifying Spring and a harp, a reference to dance and music. |
| Place depicted | |
| Summary | The fan depicts the tomb of Cecilia Metella, fourth wife of the Roman dictator Lucius Cornelius Sylla (r. 82-79 BC), which was one of the sights along the Appian Way. The theme of love is explored through the mosaic amorini and doves on the mounts, encircled by trailing roses, pansies and strands of wheat. The term 'micromosaic' is used to describe mosaics made of the smallest glass pieces. Some micromosaics contain more than 5000 pieces per square inch. The earliest attempts at micromosaic revealed visible joins between the pieces (known as tesserae) and a lack of perspective. Later artists such as Antonio Aguatti made huge advances in micromosaic technique, resulting in renderings that were truer to life. Glass micromosaic technique developed in the 18th century, in the Vatican Mosaic Workshop in Rome, where they still undertake restoration work today. Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996. |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.155-2008 |
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| Record created | June 19, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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