Masterpieces of Mosaic in Italy

Mosaics, created of small cubes of colored material pressed into wet plaster, have been created to cover walls, ceilings, and floors, with images that tend to a degree of abstraction and simplification of form. Although many mosaics, of varying quality, have survived the years, relatively little research has been devoted to this medium. This paper focuses on mosaics in Italy, with an examination of Piazza Armerina in Sicily, in all its magnitude and glory. From there, other masterpieces will be discussed, such as those found in the cathedrals of Monreale and Cefalu and in the Palatine Chapel in Palermo. This will lead to the mosaics of Ravenna and Florence, focusing on the different materials, techniques, and motifs used in Italian mosaics