Tour of the Florentine Mosaic

The Art of Mosaic, which is the original mosaic work, made of small pieces of enamel, glass, and stones of various colors committed with stucco, originated by the ancient Egyptians, developed later in Rome from the first century BC but reached its peak mainly during the Renaissance.

In particular, Florence aroused the interest of the de ‘Medici, Ferdinand I, so that in 1588 he created an institute that would collect, work, study and restore the precious stones: the Opificio delle Pietre Dure, who still represents the world reference for this art.

The Florentine mosaic is characterized by a particular technique, no longer the Board of materials and small pieces of various colors, but an assembly of molded parts in a precise pattern consisting of hard natural stone selected according to color and grain imprinted by nature, thus forming as a pictorial composition plane.

This art complex and difficult and has been progressively abandoned neglected, very few had the courage and perseverance, together with the artistic skills necessary to continue keeping this tradition alive to this day. The material to be processed is always and only the stone with rudimentary tools of technology but irreplaceable for the sensitivity and perfection which could achieve during the smoothing.

The processing includes the step of drawing on paper the size of the work, which are cut out sections, and research of natural stones by color and shade more appropriate. The pages of paper are then pasted on their colored stones and proceed with the cutting, a wooden bow, a simple wire, and the ground glass, are the best tools to do the cutting.

Once you cut the pieces, begins commettitura and inlay between one and another until you reach the perfect result of a Salesman. After the construction process, culminating in the polishing, with different grits of emery.

Mauro Tacconi is the son of the renowned Master of Mosaic Art Fiorentino, Marco Tacconi. Born in 1968 in Grassina, a town just outside Florence, where he still lives and works. His initial approach to the Mosaic occurs in early childhood, during which he usually spend much time in his father’s shop, where he started working in 1982, just completed their compulsory education.

During the early years learning to saw off the stones with a bow of wood and emery that, even today, is the best tool for cutting the stones. Learns and experiences all the other techniques that allow you to complete a task. At the same time never leaves the drawing, practicing daily and studying the great masters.

In 1984 he made his first work in Mosaic, thus inaugurating his future career. After military service and a period spent in England, returned to Florence in 1989 and focuses on his work again, trying to innovate the classical tradition of Mosaic.

Works hard on their drawings, which still runs and is also making efforts in experimenting with new techniques, including the creation of jewelry. After a few exhibitions in 1993, began a working relationship with two galleries in Rome, which still continues.

Among his clients an Arab prince and the “Galleria Farnese” with offices in Rome, Milan, Paris, Los Angeles. Since 2000, he participated with his works at various exhibitions and international exhibitions.

In March 2007 he exhibited works at the Florida International University in Miami, USA and in June 2007 at the Institute Cultural de Providencia, Santiago, Chile