Picture
ca. 1825 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Russian nobility and the Imperial family were among the first to be seduced by Roman mosaicists, importing works by Giacomo Raffaelli and his successors, notably Domenico Moglia and Michelangelo Barberi. They commissioned a number of works and invited the craftsmen to establish their workshops in Russia. Domenico Moglia had a workshop in Moscow when he spotted the talent of Georgi Wekler, then an apprentice painting glass eggs which were a traditional Russina gift at Easter.
Georgi Wekler created this micromosaic for Tsar Alexander I from a popular painting by François Marius Granet (1775-1849). Granet exhibited the original version in the Paris Salon in 1819 and received so much praise that he spent the next four years producing 16 copies for patrons including Alexander I and George IV of England. Tsar Alexander I died in 1825 before the mosaic’s completion, but his successor Nicholas I was so impressed with the final result that he presented Wekler with a large sum of money and a diamond ring. This is the earliest of the five micromosaic by Wekler in the Gilbert Collection.
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.
Georgi Wekler created this micromosaic for Tsar Alexander I from a popular painting by François Marius Granet (1775-1849). Granet exhibited the original version in the Paris Salon in 1819 and received so much praise that he spent the next four years producing 16 copies for patrons including Alexander I and George IV of England. Tsar Alexander I died in 1825 before the mosaic’s completion, but his successor Nicholas I was so impressed with the final result that he presented Wekler with a large sum of money and a diamond ring. This is the earliest of the five micromosaic by Wekler in the Gilbert Collection.
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 | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Micromosaic and wooden frame |
| Brief description | Micromosaic picture depicting interior of Capuchin church, St. Petersburg, Georgi Ferdinand Wekler, ca.1825 |
| Physical description | A rectangular micromosaic depicting a groin-vaulted church interior with a draped painting hanging from the centre and a small window at the far end. Capuchin friars sit in the rows of wooden choir stalls along each wall. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label | Interior of a Capuchin Convent, St Petersburg
About 1825
Georgi Wekler created this micromosaic from a popular painting. Tsar Nicholas I was so impressed that he presented Wekler with a large bonus and a diamond ring.
St Petersburg, Russia; Georgi Ferdinane Wekler (1800-61) after Francoi Marius Granet (1775-1849)
Glass micromosaic with wood frame
Museum no. Loan: Gilbert.877:1-2,-2008(2009) |
| Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
| Object history | Provenance: Tsar Nicholas I. Angelo Calabro, Rome, 1989. Historical significance: F.M.Granet, the artist on whose painting this mosaic picture is based, studied with Jacques Louis David (1748-1825) and lived in Rome from 1802-1819. In 1810 one of his paintings was acquired by the Empress Josephine. His Choir of the Capuchin Church was bought by Caroline Murat (1782-1839) Queen of Naples, on completion in 1815. Her brother Louis Bonaparte persuaded her to give it to him so he could display it in the Paris Salon of 1819. Before long, almost every sovereign of Europe demanded a version of the painting and Granet spent the following four years producing sixteen copies, each one slightly different in detail. Alexander I of Russia, Charles IV of Spain, the Duchess de Berry, George IV of England, Louis XVIII of France and Napoleon III all owned versions. The American artist Thomas Sully (1783-1872) made a large scale copy of it in 1821 which was displayed in various parts of America. |
| Historical context | This mosaic is modelled on a painting by François Marius Granet (1775-1849) acquired by Alexander I (r.1801-25) of Russia between 1820-5 and hung in the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg. Wekler, Master of Mosaics at the Russian Royal Academy of Art, was asked by the Tsar to produce a micromosaic version of the painting in 1825. That Tsar died before it had been completed. |
| Summary | Russian nobility and the Imperial family were among the first to be seduced by Roman mosaicists, importing works by Giacomo Raffaelli and his successors, notably Domenico Moglia and Michelangelo Barberi. They commissioned a number of works and invited the craftsmen to establish their workshops in Russia. Domenico Moglia had a workshop in Moscow when he spotted the talent of Georgi Wekler, then an apprentice painting glass eggs which were a traditional Russina gift at Easter. Georgi Wekler created this micromosaic for Tsar Alexander I from a popular painting by François Marius Granet (1775-1849). Granet exhibited the original version in the Paris Salon in 1819 and received so much praise that he spent the next four years producing 16 copies for patrons including Alexander I and George IV of England. Tsar Alexander I died in 1825 before the mosaic’s completion, but his successor Nicholas I was so impressed with the final result that he presented Wekler with a large sum of money and a diamond ring. This is the earliest of the five micromosaic by Wekler in the Gilbert Collection. 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 reference | Minter, Alice et al. Masterpieces in Miniature: Treasures from the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection. London: V&A Publishing, 2021, p.95, cat.69
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| Other numbers |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.877:1, 2-2008 |
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| Record created | June 26, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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