Antique Micromosaic Depicting the Temple of Tivoli, Rome, c. 1860

Memories of Tivoli

Antique Micromosaic Depicting the Temple of Tivoli, Rome, c. 1860

€ 980.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Description

This description was automatically translated from German. If you have any questions about this piece of jewellery, we will be happy to help!

This unusually finely crafted antique brooch resembles a small painting. An oval plate of red glass is set into a wide, simple frame made of gold-plated tombac. Within it is a micromosaic composed of countless tiny glass tesserae. Against a bright sky rises the famous round temple of Tivoli; next to it, we see the banks of the Aniene River stretching out below. Particularly charming is the subtle gradation of colours, which creates the impression of a painted landscape even within such a small space. The circular structure, known as the Temple of Vesta, stands on the acropolis of ancient Tibur, directly above the Aniene Gorge. It was likely built in the late 2nd or early 1st century B.C. Of the original 18 Corinthian columns, ten have survived. Together with the neighboring rectangular temple and the dramatic river landscape, the structure has been one of Tivoli’s most famous sights for centuries. Since the 18th century, Tivoli has been one of the classic stops on the Grand Tour. The combination of ancient ruins, steep cliffs, lush vegetation, and the Aniene waterfalls particularly embodied the contemporary ideal of a romantic landscape. Views of the Round Temple spread far beyond Italy through prints by artists such as Giuseppe Vasi and Giovanni Battista Piranesi. This view became particularly popular as a souvenir for travelers. The technique of micromosaic was ideally suited for such mementos. Using extremely small rods and tesserae of coloured glass, mosaic artists were able to render architecture, vegetation, water, and the sky with a remarkably painterly effect. In addition to larger images, they primarily created small panels for boxes, pendants, bracelets, and brooches. The motif has a remarkably long tradition. As early as 1774, the Roman mosaic artist Cesare Aguatti created a view of the temple for the English Earl of Exeter, which can be seen today at Burghley House Burghley Collections – Micro-mosaic by Cesare Aguatti, 1774. Our brooch, dating from around 1860, belongs to this tradition of precious travel souvenirs. Unlike a mere souvenir, it preserves in durable glass stones a very specific image of Italy: the ancient architecture of Tivoli overlooking the wild Aniene Valley, one of the most famous landscapes of the classical Italian journey.

Size & Details

Memories of Tivoli

€ 980.00 ^*

Content 1 piece

Incl. VAT, Shipping

Our Promise

We want you to be 100% satisfied! For that reason, we examine, describe and photograph all of our jewellery with the utmost care.

You can rely on our years of experience in the trade and our expertise as a professional art historians for reviews of the antique jewellery. As a member of various trade organisations and the British Society of Jewellery Historians, we remain committed to the highest possible degree of accuracy. In our descriptions, we always also indicate any signs of age and defects and never hide them in our photos – this saves you from any unpleasant surprises when your package arrives.

Should you for some reason not be satisfied, please don’t hesitate to contact us so that we can find a solution together. In any case, you can return any article within one month and we will refund the full purchase price.

Learn more

Memories of Tivoli

Brooches & Pins

Privacy settings