Mosaic Art: Gardner's Art Throughout The Ages

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History and the study of art history have caused the exploration of many different pieces of art. Gardner’s Art Throughout The Ages presents many of these pieces and has eductated a countless amount of people through displaying different techniques, defining specific cultures, societies, and political influence. Personally, the type of art that I will cover in this paper, Christian Mosaic Art, has come to be one of my favorites and what I find to be very interesting. Mosaic art is incredible as it displays immense coordination and detail on whatever surface is available. This paper will aim to critically consider the iconography of three important pieces of artwork. These pieces have changed many cultures through the progression of time by impacting them socially, politically, and religiously.
However, before diving into the three pieces of art, it is important to understand the purpose of a mosaic and the uses they would have had during their time. A mosaic, according to Webster’s Dictionary is, “a surface decoration made by inlaying small pieces of variously colored material to form pictures or patterns; also: the process of making it.” Originally, while other methods were also used, mosaics were created as an economical, or low-cost, and durable floor. It was quickly discovered how patterns could be created by effectively using different shapes and colors of stone. This process of development and mosaic evolution continued escalating to a point where a much higher level of sophistication was needed to master the proper technique. By the fourth century a requirement was brought about where mosaics were no longer simple patterns, but rather transformed into true paintings with great detail and tapestry. Even further yet, ear...

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...essence of the reference, as Jesus states, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep… I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. So I sacrifice my life for the sheep. (Holy Bible, NLT, Page 918).” Jesus is displayed holding a cross while sitting among his sheep, clearly signifying him as Christ. Great significance towards the placement of the artwork is also revealed through the knowledge that the Galla Placidia was built just a century after Christianity was allowed. Since this was the case, whoever would have entered the presence of the chapel, and specifically the “Christ as the Good Shepherd,” would have experienced its great significance through the boldness it had during it’s time and the specific, and well known, meaning of Christ as the good shepherd.

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