Micromosaics developed into a popular Roman souvenir in the 19th century. The works shown here are among the most ambitious works ever created in this technique which uses minuscule glass pieces just as a painter uses brush-strokes. Cavaliere Michelangelo Barberi (1787-1867) trained as a painter and mosaicist. He nonetheless postulated that technical perfection was not an aim in itself, but rather a ‘service to Rome’ and Italy. The ancient art form mosaic, its revival and further evolution were part of a revolutionary message: at a time when Italians were fighting for political union, Barberi’s monumental tables brought together iconic views showcasing the shared cultural identity of Italy and its ancient roots.

The central panel of this table-top is a small-scale copy of the ‘Doves of Pliny’, an ancient floor mosaic praised by Pliny for its naturalism. Following its rediscovery in 1737, the design inspired a wave of new mosaics that imitated the effect of painting.

Roman monuments depicted (clockwise from top): Pantheon, Temple of Vesta (Tivoli), Colosseum and the Roman Forum


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.