Commesso

For the Italian road bicycle racer, see Salvatore Commesso.

Commesso, also referred to as Florentine mosaic, is a method of piecing together cut sections of luminous, narrow gemstones to form works of art.^[1] Precise patterns are cut into a slab of (generally black) marble. Gems are then cautiously cut and meticulously inlaid into these patterns. The work is then polished section by section, as it cannot be polished as a whole due to gems having different hardnesses.^[2] The practice, which began in Florence, Italy, dates back to at least the 14th century and gained prominence just before the 17th century.^[1] Some of its uses include making pictures and decorating furniture and architecture.

Image gallery

Agony in the Garden, circa 1604, Prado Museum The rape of Ganymede, panel from a cabinet with mythological scenes Commesso in pietre dure Panel with a Parrot on a Pear Tree Altar decorated in commesso Nightscape A commesso table Clement VIII

See also

• Mosaic
• Florentine painting
• Opificio delle pietre dure