History of mosaic – 30 credits
Term 1
Introduction to historic mosaics: definitions, sources, contexts and making
Making ancient mosaics in theory and practice
Building the foundations: bedding mortars and aggregates (practical session)
Ways of seeing: looking at, describing and writing about mosaics
Points and pictures: Classical pebble mosaics in context
Making pebble mosaics (practical session)
Understanding bits and pieces: the invention of tessellation
Making mortar floors (practical session)
Virtuoso vermiculata: mosaics in Hellenistic and Republican residences
MUSEUM VISIT (British Museum): reception and interpretation
Term 2
Making tessellated mosaics (practical session)
An empire-wide craft 1: the central Mediterranean
An empire-wide craft 2: the western Mediterranean & north-west provinces
An empire-wide craft 3: the eastern Mediterranean
MUSEUM VISIT (British Museum): reception and interpretation
From Late Antiquity to Byzantium: the East From Late Antiquity to Byzantium: the West
Making Byzantine wall mosaics (practical session)
The Byzantine and Medieval worlds
The afterlives of ancient mosaics
Assessment
Term 1: one commentary of 750-1000 words
Term 2: 1500-2000 word essay answering a set question
Practical Report of 750-2000 words