The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 10, No. 289, December 22, 1827

Tale of a Modern Genius

FINE ARTS

ART OF MOSAIC

At Rome are many minor fine arts practised, which are wholly unknown in England. The most remarkable of them is the Mosaic Manufactory, carried on at the cost of government: and its fruits are theirs. The workmen are constantly occupied in copying paintings for altarpieces, though the works of the first masters are fast mouldering away on the walls of forgotten churches. They will soon be lost forever; it is yet possible to render them imperishable by means of Mosaic copies; and why is it not done? The French, at Milan, set an example of this, by copying, in mosaic, the Last Supper of Leonardo da Vinci; but it was their plan to do much for Milan, and nothing for Rome; and the invaluable frescos of Michael Angelo, Raphael, Domenichino, and Guido, were left to perish.

It takes about seven or eight years to finish a mosaic copy of a painting of the ordinary historical size, two men being constantly employed. It generally costs from eight to ten thousand crowns, but the time and expense are of course regulated by the intricacy of the subject and quantity of work. Raphael's Transfiguration, cost about 12,000 crowns, and the labour of nine years, ten men constantly working at it. The late works, are, however, of very inferior execution.

The slab upon which the mosaic is made, is generally of Travertine, (or Tiburtine) stones, connected together by iron cramps. Upon the surface of this a mastic or cementing paste, is gradually spread, as the progress of the work makes it wanted, which forms the adhesive ground, or bed, on which the mosaic is laid. This mastic is composed of fine lime from burnt marble, and finely powdered Travertine stone, mixed to the consistence of a paste, with strong linseed oil. Into this paste are stuck the smalts, of which the mosaic picture is formed. They are a mixed species of opaque vitrified glass, partaking of the mixed nature of stone and glass, and composed of a variety of minerals and materials, coloured for the most part, with different metallic oxydes. Of these no less than 1,700 different shades are in use; they are manufactured in Rome in the form of long, slender rods like wires, of different degrees of thickness, and are cut into pieces of the requisite sizes, from the smallest pin point to an inch. When the picture is completely finished, and the cement thoroughly dried, it is highly polished.

Mosaic, though an ancient art, is not merely a revived, but an improved one; for the Romans only used coloured marbles, or natural stones in its composition, which admitted of comparatively little variety; but the invention of smalts has given it a far wider range, and made the imitation of painting far closer. The mosaic work at Florence is totally different to this, being merely inlaying in pietre dure, or natural precious stones, of every variety, which forms beautiful, and very costly imitations of shells, flowers, figures, &c. but bears no similitude to painting.

Besides this government establishment at Rome, there are hundreds of artists, or artisans, who carry on the manufactory of mosaics on a small scale. Snuff-boxes, rings, necklaces, brooches, earrings, &c. are made in immense quantity; and since the English flocked in such numbers to Rome, all the streets leading to the Piazza di Spagna are lined with the shops of these Musaicisti, &c.

Oriental shells are made at Rome into beautiful cameos, by the white outer surface being cut away upon the deeper coloured internal part, forming figures in minute bassi relievi. The subjects are chiefly taken from ancient gems, and sometimes from sculpture and painting. The shells used for this purpose are chiefly brought from the Levant; and these shell cameos make remarkably beautiful ornaments. Hundreds of artists also find support at Rome, in making casts, sulphurs, &c. from ancient gems and medals, and in selling or fabricating antiques. Marble and stone-cutting are also beautifully executed both at Rome and Florence—Abridged, (but interspersed) from "Rome in the 19th Century."

THE GATHERER

"I am but a Gatherer and disposer of other men's stuff."—Wotton.

TO ****

Moria pur quando vuol non è bisogna mutar ni faccia ni voci per esser un Angelo.—The words addressed by Lord Herbert of Cherbury, to the beautiful Nun at Murano. (See his Life.)

Translation.

Die when you will, you need not wear At heaven's Court, a form more fair, Than beauty here on earth has giv'n, Keep but the lovely looks we see—The voice we hear—and you will be An angel ready made for heaven.

A CARD

Left at the Queen's house during the King's illness in March,

1801

"Captain Blake of the Grenadiers, (George 1st.), was in the regiment of Colonel Murray at the battle of Preston Pans, in the year 1745. He was left among the dead in the field of action, with no less than eleven wounds, one so capital as to carry away three inches of his skull. Has been preserved fifty-six years to relate the event, and enabled by gracious protection, to make his personal inquiry after his majesty."

MARGARET NICHOLSON

The following is the original, epistle of this famous lunatic to the matron of Bedlam; No other proof is necessary of her insanity:—

Madam,—I've recollected perhaps 'tis necessary to acquaint you upon what account I continue here yet, maim, after making you privy to my great concerns, madam I only wait for alteration of the globe which belongs to this house, maim and if the time is almost expired I wish to know it maim. Tho' I am not unhealthy, yet I am very weak, know maim therefore I hope it won't be long maim.

I am, madam, your most obedient,

Wednesday. M. NICHOLSON.

LADY ARCHER,

Formerly Miss West, lived to a good age—a proof that cosmetics are not so fatal as has been supposed. Nature had given her a fine aquiline nose, like, the princesses of the house of Austria, and she did not fail to give herself a complexion. She resembled a fine old wainscotted painting with the face and features shining through a thick incrustation of copal varnish.

Her ladyship was for many years the wonder of the fashionable world, envied by all the ladies that frequented the court. She had a splendid house in Portland-place, with et caetera equal in brilliancy and beauty to, or rather surpassing those of any of her contemporaries. Magnificent appendages were a sort of scenery. She gloried in milk-white horses to her carriage—the coachman and footman in grand shewy liveries—the carriage lined with a silk calculated to exhibit the complexion, &c. &c.

I recollect, however, to have seen the late Mrs. Robinson go far beyond all this in the rich exuberance of her genius; a yellow lining to her landau, with a black footman, to contrast with her beautiful countenance and fascinating figure, and thus render both more lovely. Lady Archer's house at Barnes Elms Terrace, had an elegance of ornaments and drapery to strike the senses, and yet powerfully addressed to the imagination. She could give an insinuating interest to the scenes about her; which other eyes were viewing. Her kitchen garden and pleasure ground of five acres—the Thames running in front as if appertaining to the grounds—the apartments most tastefully decorated in the Chinese style—a fine conservatory opening, into the principal apartment with grapes, slow peaches, &c. at the end a magnificent sofa, with a superb curtain all displayed with a peculiar grace and to the greatest advantage. Much praise was due to her arrangement of green and hot-house plants, the appellations of which she was well acquainted with, as also everything relating to their history.—from the Papers of the late Alexander Stephens, Esq.

TO SUBSCRIBERS

Several of our early Numbers (which were unavoidably for sometime out of print), having been recently reprinted, we suggest to our Subscribers the present opportunity of Completing their Sets. Although public patronage has long kept us in countenance, it does not enable us to keep all our Numbers constantly in print.

The Editor of "THE MIRROR" has in the press,

ARCANA OF SCIENCE AND ART, FOR 1828:

Being the popular Discoveries and Improvements of the past Year, in Antiquities Architecture, Astronomy, Botany, Chemistry, Fine Arts, Geography, Geology, Mechanical Science, Medicine, Meteorology, Mineralogy, Natural Philosophy, Rural Economy, Statistics, Useful Arts, Zoology. &c.

Abridged from the Transactions of Public Societies, and other Scientific Journals, English and Foreign, in a closely-printed volume. Printed and Published by J. LIMBIRD, 143, Strand, (near Somerset House,) and sold by all Newsmen and Booksellers.

notes

1

The Duke is a good economist of time; for what with excellent cattle and the glory of Macadamized roads, his R.H. comes to town in the morning, transacts his official business at the Admiralty, and frequently returns to Bushy to dinner.

2

"Till now some nine moons wasted."—SHAKSPEARE.

3

The ceremony of kissing the foot, as well as the hand, of a sovereign, is yet observed in the east.