Picture
ca. 1800 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
The subject of this micromosaic is unusual. While vases were popular motifs on miniature micromosaics, this is the only known example of a large-scale depiction of a Greek red-figure vase from Attica.
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.
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 | Glass micromosaic and marble with gilded wood frame. |
Brief description | Picture of Attic red figure vase. Micromosaic, Rome, ca.1800. |
Physical description | Rectangular brown and white marble plaque set with a black marble oval and an oval micromosaic depicting an Attic red-figure vase in profile. On the body of the vase are three red figures in white robes. The central figure, a youth in frontal view, holds a staff and stands between two female figures one of whom holds a thyrsus over her shoulder. The mosaic and the marble are set in a white marble frame with gilt beading. |
Dimensions |
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Gallery label | Attic vase
About 1800
The subject of this mocromosaic is unusual. While vases were popular motifs on miniature micromosaics, this is the only known example of a large-scale depiction of a Greek red-figure vase from Attica.
Rome, Italy
Glass micromosaic with marble frame
Museum no. Loan: Gilbert.223:1,2-2008(2009) |
Credit line | The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London |
Object history | Provenance: Partridge Fine Art, 12/08/1996. Historical significance: The composition of the Attic vase is no a copy of a known original but rather an imitation of the type although the figure on the right does bear some resemblance to the Greek vase artist known as the 'Meidas Painter'. |
Historical context | The neoclassical subject and the two dimensional image on a solid ground suggest an early date. The representation of an Attic, red-figure, volute krater (a large antique vase with tall decorative handles that end in volutes) is unique in the field of micromosaics. The vase shown dates from 400-450 BC. |
Summary | The subject of this micromosaic is unusual. While vases were popular motifs on miniature micromosaics, this is the only known example of a large-scale depiction of a Greek red-figure vase from Attica. 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. |
Other numbers |
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Collection | |
Accession number | LOAN:GILBERT.223:1, 2-2008 |
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Record created | June 26, 2008 |
Record URL |
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