Not currently on display at the V&A

Picture

1800-1825 (made)
Artist/Maker
Testa, Antonio (maker)
Place of origin
Rome (made)

The Janiculum Hill is famous for its views of Rome. The Corsini Palace and gardens occupy the centre of the panorama. St Peter's Basilica stands to the left and the Acqua Paola fountain to the right. This mosaic reportedly took Antonio Testa 20 years to complete.

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

Object type
Picture
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Picture
  • Frame
Materials and techniques
Micromosaic
Mosaic Glass
Micromosaic
Brief description
Panoramic view of Rome, Antonio Testa, Rome, 1800-25
Physical description
Wide rectangular micromosaic picture depicting the city of Rome from the Janiculum Hill. The Vatican and St. Peter's can be seen on the far left and the Corsini Palace, and its gardens, can be seen in the middle of the panorama.
Dimensions
  • Mosaic only height: 48cm
  • Mosaic only width: 134.3cm
  • Mosaic and frame weight: 95.0kg (c.)
  • Incl. frame depth: 11cm
  • Incl. frame height: 74cm
  • Incl. frame width: 159cm
Measured 25/01/24 IW
Marks and inscriptions
At the far left of the picture a plaque beneath a tree is inscribed ' HINC SEPTEM DOMINUS VIDERE MONTES ET TOTAL LICET ASTIMARE ROMAN' (This is a quotation from an epigram by the Roman writer Marcus Valerius Martialis (first century AD) and also occurs on the etching of 1765 by Giuseppi Vasi which was the source for this spectacular panoramic view of the Eternal City.)
Translation
From here one can see the seven lordly mountains and survey all Rome
Gallery label
Panoramic view of Rome from the Janiculum Hill 1800–25 The Janiculum Hill is famous for its views of Rome. The Corsini Palace and gardens occupy the centre of the panorama. St Peter’s Basilica stands to the left and the Acqua Paola fountain to the right. This mosaic reportedly took Antonio Testa 20 years to complete. Rome, Italy; Antonio Testa (born 1785), after an etching of 1756 by Giuseppe Vasi Glass micromosaic Museum no. Loan:Gilbert.893:1, 2-2008(2009)
Credit line
The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Object history
Provenance: Heirs of Antonio Testa. Galleria Sangiorgi, Rome, 1969.

Historical significance: The ancient site of the Janiculum Hill, named after Janus, the Roman god of city gates, rises up three hundred feet on the right bank of the Tiber, west of the City and south of the Vatican. The views of Rome from the Janiculum were celebrated. This picture provides an astonishingly accurate view of the City. Roman visitors to Sir Arthur's Villa in Beverly Hills where the picture was originally displayed would enjoy pointing out the exact location of their homes.
Historical context
This unsigned mosaic was acquired from Giorgio Sangiorgi who purchased it from the heirs of the artist Antonio Testa several years prior to 1969. Testa's studio was in the Piazza di Spagna where he apparently spent twenty years working on this mosaic.
Production
After an etching of 1756 by Giuseppe Vasi.
Place depicted
Rome (City)
Summary
The Janiculum Hill is famous for its views of Rome. The Corsini Palace and gardens occupy the centre of the panorama. St Peter's Basilica stands to the left and the Acqua Paola fountain to the right. This mosaic reportedly took Antonio Testa 20 years to complete.

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.
Associated object
LOAN:GILBERT.898-2008 (Design)
Bibliographic references
  • Sherman, Anthony C. The Gilbert Mosaic Collection. Edited by M. Barbara Scheibel. West Haven, Connecticut: Pendulum Press, 1971, pp. 34-35, pl. XV.
  • Avery, Charles, assisted by Arthur Emperatori. Mosaics from the Gilbert Collection: summary catalogue. Exhibition catalogue Victoria & Albert Museum. London: H.M.S.O. 1975, no. 18.
  • 'Los Angeles County Museum Receives Gift of Silver and Mosaic Collection'. Lapidary Journal, 1977, p.198.
  • Gonzalez-Palacios, Alvar and Steffi Röttgen with essays by Steffi Röttgen, Claudia Przyborowski; essays and new catalogue material translated by Alla Theodora Hall. The Art of Mosaics: Selections from the Gilbert Collection. Los Angeles (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) 1982. 224 p., ill. Cat. no. 49. ISBN 0875871097
  • Zucker, M. 'A Great Collection of Time Artistry: How it was made', Smithsonian, May 1977, vol. 8. no. 2, p. 90.
  • Schrijner, E. 'The Grand Tour Hollandaise'. Apollo, November 1984, vol. CXX, no. 237, p. 337.
  • Branchetti, Maria Grazia, Guido Almansi and Massimo Alfieri, 'Minima Musiva'. FMR, no. 45, October 1986. [Milan]: Franco Maria Ricci, pp. 86-87.
  • Bertelli, Carlo, ed. Mosaics. Gallery Books, New York, 1989, pp. 274-275. ISBN 0831760915
  • Italian Art & Antiques, 1996, p.56.
  • Gabriel, Jeanette Hanisee with contributions by Anna Maria Massinelli and essays by Judy Rudoe and Massimo Alfieri. Micromosaics: The Gilbert Collection. London: Philip Wilson Publishers Ltd. in association with The Gilbert Collection, 2000. 310 p., ill. Cat. no. 29, pp. 80-81. ISBN 0856675113.
Other numbers
  • MM 46 - Arthur Gilbert Number
  • SG 91
Collection
Metalwork Collection
Accession number
LOAN:GILBERT.893:1, 2-2008

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Record createdJune 26, 2008
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O157695/picture-testa-antonio/
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