Italian Mosaics
Custom mosaics have not only been used around the world to decorate mosques and public spaces, but are also a status symbol in private homes. Naturally, Italy is a leader in this handworked art form with many of the best artists coming from
Scuola Mosaicisti del Friuli. The region of Friuli has many of Italy's top mosaic artists from companies such as MOSAIC Line (www.mosaicline.it), Travisanutto (www.travisanutto.it), and Mos Art (www.mosart.it) each with its own unique style.
MOSAIC
Line, for instance, creates many custom pieces as well as faithful reproductions of masterpieces of renaissance, modern and contemporary art. Mos Art, on the other hand, makes products according to the ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine mosaic tradition. Check out their websites and enjoy the fantastic work of these artists.
Italians Add A Note to Art History
The Associated Press reported this week that a hidden Etruscan
tomb was recently discovered at Veio, Italy with images of birds and other paintings on the walls. The tomb dates to 690 B.C., and experts are calling it the earliest example of the funerary decorations that would later become common in the Greek and Roman world. See details of the AP story below:
Source: ARIEL DAVID
VEIO, Italy | A suspected tomb raider turned police informant has led archaeologists to what experts describe as the oldest known frescoed burial chamber in Europe. The tomb, on a hilly wheat field north of Rome, belonged to a warrior prince from the nearby Etruscan town of Veio, according to archaeologists who took journalists on a tour of the site. Dating from about 690 B.C., the underground burial chamber is decorated with roaring lions and migratory birds. Experts are hailing it as the earliest example of the funerary.
"This princely tomb is unique and it marks the origin of Western painting," said Culture Minister Francesco Rutelli, referring to the ancient art of burial painting.
Authorities were led to the site in May by an Italian on trial for trafficking in illegally excavated artifacts. He revealed the location of the tomb in hopes of gaining leniency from the court, said Carabinieri Gen. Ugo Zottin.
Sparks Fly at Matera's Festa della Madonna Bruna
If you're traveling in Italy this next week and are going to miss the Independence Day fireworks here in the states, try taking a visit to Matera's Festa della Madonna Bruna on July 2nd. You can learn more about the all day festival and the spectacular fireworks at: http://goeurope.about.com/library/weekly/aa062002b.htm