Page:Cyclopaedia, Chambers - Volume 2.djvu/233

 MOS

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MOS

In this fenfe Mofaic Work includes Marquetry, ot Inlaid they difpofe orderly in Cafes ; as in Painting inFrefco; 'tis Wirk, Var.eerim, ££*tr. But in the reftrain'd fcnfe of the ulual to range all the different Teints in Shells, and ac- VtCtAt it only takes in Works of Stone, Metals and Glafs; cording to their (Jolour.

It 'tis defir'd to have Gold, either in the Ground of thd Painting, or in the Ornaments, or the Draperies, they take fome of the Pieces of Glais, form'd add tilt in the man- ner jull mention'd. Thefe they moiften bfl one fide with Gum-Water, and afterwatds lay 'em overwith Gold-Leaf. They then put this Piece, or feveral Pieces ar a tifne; on a Fire-movel, uhich they place in the mouth of the Fiirhace,

Aofe of Wood being dillinguifh'd by the Name of Mar- quetry or Inlaying.

Others diltinguifh otherwife between Mofaic, and Mar- quetry. In that properly cali'd Mofaic, the feveral Stones are all of the fame Colour ; and the Changes, and Dimi- nutions of Colours, and Shades, are made by applying dif- ferent Slones one on ano.her, but all of the fame Colour.

Mtrquesry, on the conttary, confifts of Stones of different after having firft cover'd them with another hollow Piece

Colours ; and by thefe the feveral Colours, Shades, De- of Glais. Here they continue till fuch time as they be-

gradations, Jjjc. are exprefs'd. come red-hot ; after which the Shovel is drawn out, all at

The Critics are divided as to the Origin and Reafon of once, and the Gold becomes fo firmly attached to the Glafs

the Name Mofaic. Some derive it from Mofatcum, a Cor- that it will never afterwards leave i

ruption of Mufaicv.m, as that is of Mtfiium, as it was cali'd among the Romans. Scaliger derives it from the Greek //Soap, and imagines the Name was given to this fort of Works, as being very fine, and ingenious. Nelritenfis is of opinion they were fo cali'd, becaufe ex Hlis FiRuris ornaiantur Mu- fea.

Mofaic feems to have taken its Origin from Fa-ving : The fine Effect and Ufe of Pavements, compofed of Pieces of Marble of different Colours fo well join'd together, as

Now, to apply thefe feveral Pieces, and out of 'em to form a Picture, they firll make a Cartoon, or Defign ; this they transfer on the Ground or Piaiiier, by calquing, as in Painting in Frelco. See Fresco.

As this Plailler is ro be laid thick on the Wall, it will continue fre/li and r*>h a considerable time, fo that there may be enough prepar'd at once to ferve three or four days. It is compos'd of Lime made of hard Stone, with Brick- dult very fine, Gum-Tragacamh, and Whites of Eggs ;

that when dry'd they might be polifti'd, and the whole when it is thus prepar'd, and laid on the Wall, and made Male a very beautiful and folid Body, which continually the Defign of what is to be reprefented, with Plyers they trodden upon, and warned with Water, was not at all da- take out the little Pieces of GUIs, ranging 'em one after tnaged ; gave the Painter the hint; who foon carry'd the another, and Hill keeping ftriflly to the light Shadow, dif- Art to a much greater Perfection : fo as to reprefent Fo- ferent Teints and-Colours reprefented in the Defign before 5 liageSf Mafques, and other Grorcfque Pieces of various preffing or flatting 'em down with a Ruler, which ferves Colours, an a Ground of black or white Marble. In fine, both to fink 'em within the Ground, and to render the obferviog the good Effect which this kind of Work had in Surface even.

Pavements, and finding that it refilled Water, they pro- Thus, in a long time, and with an infinite deal of trou- ceeded to line Walls therewith, and to make various Fi- ble, they fini/h, the Work, which is Hill the more beau- gures for the Ornament of their Temples and public tiful, as the Pieces of GLfs are more uniform, and rang 'd at Buildings. more equal heights. Some of thefe are executed with fo

But Nature not producing Variety of Colours enough much Juftnefs, that they appear as fmooth as a Table of for 'em in Marbles, to paint all kinds of Objects, they be- Marble, and as fini/h 'd and mafterly as a Painting in Fref- thought of countetfeiting 'em with Glais and Metal Co- C o; with this advantage, that they have a fine Luftre, and lours j which fucceeded fo well with 'em, that having gi- will hold almoft for ever.

ven all manner of Teints to an infinite number of little The finefi Works of this kind, that have defcended to Pieces of thefe two Matters, to counterfeit Stones of va- us, and thofe whereon the Moderns have retriev'd the Art rious Colours, in order to get more Colours ; the Workmen almoft loft, are thofe of the Church of St. Aines for- arranged 'em with fo much Art, that their Mofaic feem'd merly the Temple of Bacchus at Rome; at Tifa ■ Florence almoft to difpute with Paintings. This way of reprefenting and other Cities of Italy. The moft e'.ieem'd a'mono the Objects having this advantage, that it refifls the Injuries Works of the Moderns, are thofe of -Jofeeh Pine, and the of the Air as well as Marble itfelf; and even grows more Chevalier Lanfranc, in the Church of St. Teter at Rome. beautiful with Time, which effaces all other kind ot Paint- There are very good ones likewife at Venice. inc.

But the Moderns are gone further, and fetting afideGlafs Mosaic Work of Marlle, and precious Stones.

and Metals, as too mean Materials, have introduced, along Thefe two Kinds of Mofaics bear fo near a relation to each with the fineft Marbles, the richeft of precious Stones, as other, as to the Manner of Working, that to avoid Repeti- Lapis, Agar, Cornelians, Emeralds, Turquoifes, cjfe. tior., we fhall give 'em both under one; obferving, by

Of thefe three Kinds of ilfo/aa-Work, rhat ot colour'd thewa), wherein the one differs from the other either in Glafs and Metals is now little in ufe, tho of a furprizing the lawing or the ranging of the Stones. Luftre and Durablencfs : of the other two, that of Mar- Mofaic of Marble is ufed in large Works, as in Pavements bles alone is in common Ufe; the Mofaic of precious of Churches, Bafiltcs, and Palaces; and in the Incruftation Stone being fo very dear, that the few Workmen who ap- and Vaneering of the Walls of the fame Edifices. As to ply rhemfelves to it, make little elfe but petty Works, as that of Stones, efpecially precious Stones, 'tis only ufed in Ornaments for Altar-Pieces, Tables for rich Cabinets, ti?c. fmall Works, as before obferv'd.

Tho out of thefe mult be excepted that fumptuous Cha- The Ground of Mofaic Wurks wholly Marble is ordi- 1 of the Dukes of Tufcany, which has been fo long in narily a maflive Marble, either white or black. ' On this nd, and which, if ever it be finifh'd, will be a noble Ground the Defign is cut with a Chiffel, havina been firft Monument of the Magnificence and Piety of thofe Princes, calqued. When 'tis dug of a fufficient Depth, ?. e. an Inch as well as of the Patience and Addrefs of the Workmen or mote, 'til fill'd up with Marble of a proper Colour firffi employ 'd therein. contourn'd, or falhion'd to the Defign, and redue'd to the

We (hall however enter into fome Detail of the Manner Thicknefs of the Indentures, with various Inftruments. To of working in thofe three Kinds of Mofaic; to which we make the Pieces, thus inferred into the Indentures hold fliall add a fourth much newer, yet equally ingenious with whofe feveral Colours are to imitate thofe of the Defien' any of the reft, made with a kind of Gyffum or Talc, found they ufe a Stuc, compos'd of Lime and Marble Duft • or in Stone-Quarries about Faris. a Maftic, which each Workman prepares differently : after

which, the Work is half poli/h'd with a foft kind of Stone Mosaic Work of Glafs. The Figures thus mark'd out, the Painter, or Sculptor

himlelf draws, with a Pencil, the Colours of the Figures not

This Kind oi Mofaic they begin with little Pieces of Glafs, determin'd by the Ground, and in the fame manner makes

which they provide of as many different Colours as poffi- Strokes or Hatchings, in the Places where Shadows are to

ble. To this end, the Glaffmen's Furnaces being difpofed, be; and when he has engrav'd with the Chiffel all the

and their Pots or Crucibles full of the Matter of which Strokes thus drawn, he fills them up with a black Maftic

Glafs is made, or rather of Glafs already made, they put compos'd partly of Bmpmiy&\t<&, pour'd on hot ; taking

what Colour or Dye rhey think fit in each Crucible, always off, afterwards, what is fuperfluous with a piece of foft

beginning with rhe weakeft, and augmenting the Strength of Stone or Brick, which with Water and beaten Cem-nt

I

V and lay it'ona fmootfi Marble, flatting it 'down at Vetfaiuet; and ^^^^{l^t^tTh^t^sJ^lc

With another like Marble, and then cutting it into Slices Palace are incruftated-

of equal bignefs, and about the thicknefs of an Inch and For Mofaic Work of precious Stories ; there are 'required o

half. They then with an Instrument, which the Italians fher and moredelicate Inftruments than thofe ufed in Mar"

qo\\ Bocca drCam, make other Pieces fquarc, and others of ble; as Wheels, Drills, Tin-Plates &c. ufed by Lanier

different Figures and Sizes, as occafion requires ; thefe ries, and Engravers on Stone.

As