Rare signed Italian Micromosaic Plaque of a Sheep Pastoral Scene, Vatican Studio

Description

A Rare signed 19th C. Italian Micromosaic Plaque of a Sheep Pastoral Scene, Vatican Studio. This rectangular Italian micromosaic plaque depicts a pastoral landscape with a shepherdess tending a flock of sheep along a winding path bordered by a grove of tall trees. A small dog stands beside the flock, while distant hills and an open meadow extend across the background beneath a pale sky. The composition is executed in minute glass tesserae arranged in subtle gradations of green, brown, blue, cream, and white to define the landscape, foliage, figures, and animals. The shepherdess wears a white blouse with a blue skirt and red apron, providing a focal point within the natural setting. The plaque is housed in a molded giltwood frame with a broad inner molding and an outer border carved with alternating spiral bands and rounded bosses. The scene is signed in the lower right corner, and the closely set tesserae create smooth transitions throughout the composition. The plaque was produced by the Vatican Studio and bears its original paper label on the reverse reading Rev. Fabbrica S. Pietro in Vaticano, Studio del Mosaico. The label identifies the artist as Arighi, records the object as "Quadro con pecore," and includes the original inventory number and price. The signature on the front corresponds with the artist identified on the studio label, providing clear documentation of its production and attribution. The Vatican Mosaic Studio was established to produce durable mosaic works using finely cut glass tesserae, adapting painted compositions into permanent mosaic form. During the nineteenth century, the studio created landscape views, religious subjects, and pastoral scenes intended for collectors and visitors to Rome. Works of this type required thousands of individually shaped tesserae that were selected for color, size, and placement to reproduce fine details. The careful alignment of the tesserae, the preserved studio label, and the original signed composition identify this plaque as a documented example of nineteenth century Vatican Studio micromosaic production. Depicting a pastoral scene, signed 'A. Arighi, Roma' in the lower right corner. Overall Dimensions: 6.5" Height; 10" Width; 1.25" Depth Height of plaque: 7" * 3.75"

Details

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