AN ITALIAN MICROMOSAIC PLAQUE

The subject of this micromosaic appears on a number of known plaques. The theme of fighting animals was depicted by many mosaicists, including Antonio Aguatti and Giacomo Barberri, who took their inspiration from painters such as Johann Wenzel Peter (1745-1829) and Paul De Vos (1596-1678) as well as from Snyder. The very fine tesserae used in the present example suggests that the artist may well be Antonio Aguatti (D. 1846), who was noted as being one of the most distinguished micromosaic artists of his era. His studio, located at 96 Piazza di Spagna, was also credited with the technique of fusing different colours of micromosaic, allowing for a more painterly quality to the medium. In 1810 his work was shown at the Capitoline exhibition of 'Roman Works of Art and Industry', held at the Campidoglio, and from 1832 until his death in 1846 he was professor of mosaics at the Vatican workshops where, amongst others, he trained the celebrated mosaicist Michelangelo Barberi (1783-1857).