Table
1850-1875 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Micromosaics have their roots in the larger mosaics of ancient Rome used to decorate their walls and floors. The first micromosaics were created in the 18th century, but it was not until Arthur Gilbert himself became interested in collecting them and invented the term 'micromosaics' that they became known as such. The tesserae are minute pieces cut from thin pieces of glass known as smalti filati, and some of the finest micomosaics can consist of as many as 5,000 tesserae per square inch (ca. 3 by 3cm). By the late 18th century Rome had become central to the production of micromosaics and sold them as souvenirs to wealthy foreigners visiting the city. From small elegant snuffboxes to large monumental tabletops, micromosaics could be used to decorate objects of all shapes and sizes. They could even be made to resemble full-sized canvas paintings, and indeed Arthur Gilbert himself mistook his very first micromosaic for a painting. When he brought it home to show his wife, he had to convince her that it was not in fact a cracked painting, as she supposed, but a mosaic.
The East was a popular subject in 19th-century European art. The central image of three Arabs hunting is based on The Lion Hunt, a painting of 1836 by the French artist Horace Vernet, who had travelled in Algeria and the Middle East. The Gilberts acquired this tabletop in 1969 from the Vatican, where it had been in the possession of one of the cardinals.
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 East was a popular subject in 19th-century European art. The central image of three Arabs hunting is based on The Lion Hunt, a painting of 1836 by the French artist Horace Vernet, who had travelled in Algeria and the Middle East. The Gilberts acquired this tabletop in 1969 from the Vatican, where it had been in the possession of one of the cardinals.
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 | |
Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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Materials and techniques | Micromosaic, marble and gilt bronze |
Brief description | Mosaic table with Lion Hunt, Rome, ca.1850-1875. |
Physical description | Round black marble table with a micromosaic depiction of three Arabs on horseback attacking a lioness with spears. This scene is surrounded by a floral wreath. The table has a gilt bronze pedestal base. |
Dimensions |
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Gallery label | Tabletop with Arabs hunting
1850-75
The East was a popular subject in 19th-century European art. The central image of three Arabs hunting is based on The Lion Hunt, a painting of 1836 by the French artist Horace Vernet, who had travelled in Algeria and the Middle East. Originally made for Pope Pius IX, this tabletop was eventually acquired by the Gilberts from the Vatican in 1969.
Rome, Italy; Vatican Mosaic Workshop
Marble and glass micromosaic
Museum no. Loan: Gilbert. 180:1-2008(2009) |
Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on Loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
Object history | Provenance: Studio del Mosaico, Vatican. Historical significance: A reverse image after The Lion Hunt, a painting by Horace Vernet (1789-1863) in the Wallace Collection, London. Vernet was the Director of the French Academy in Rome and his work demonstrates the contemporary fashion of Orientalism. This was based on an imaginary and romanticised view of the Islamic world and was adapted to suit a wide range of decorative arts in the late 19th century |
Historical context | When Arthur and Rosalinde Gilbert were first shown this table they were told that it was intended as a gift from one of the Vatican hierarchy to the Pope and that it was not for sale. Not to be defeated, the Gilberts wrote to the Vatican explaining that they intended to make a large donation to the church, after which they received the table as a gift. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | Micromosaics have their roots in the larger mosaics of ancient Rome used to decorate their walls and floors. The first micromosaics were created in the 18th century, but it was not until Arthur Gilbert himself became interested in collecting them and invented the term 'micromosaics' that they became known as such. The tesserae are minute pieces cut from thin pieces of glass known as smalti filati, and some of the finest micomosaics can consist of as many as 5,000 tesserae per square inch (ca. 3 by 3cm). By the late 18th century Rome had become central to the production of micromosaics and sold them as souvenirs to wealthy foreigners visiting the city. From small elegant snuffboxes to large monumental tabletops, micromosaics could be used to decorate objects of all shapes and sizes. They could even be made to resemble full-sized canvas paintings, and indeed Arthur Gilbert himself mistook his very first micromosaic for a painting. When he brought it home to show his wife, he had to convince her that it was not in fact a cracked painting, as she supposed, but a mosaic. The East was a popular subject in 19th-century European art. The central image of three Arabs hunting is based on The Lion Hunt, a painting of 1836 by the French artist Horace Vernet, who had travelled in Algeria and the Middle East. The Gilberts acquired this tabletop in 1969 from the Vatican, where it had been in the possession of one of the cardinals. 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. |
Bibliographic references |
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Other numbers |
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Collection | |
Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.180:1, 2-2008 |
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Record created | June 26, 2008 |
Record URL |
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