Micromosaics: Highlights from the Gilbert Collection

From a distance, micromosaics appear like paintings; it is only on closer inspection that the intricate patterns of tesserae (the tiny pieces of stone, tile, or glass used to create the mosaic) become apparent. Some of the most virtuosic examples of this art appear in the Victoria and Albert Museum’s Gilbert Collection. Sir Arthur Gilbert was credited with coining the term “micromosaics” and this superlative collection includes pieces ranging from portraits to table tops. Illustrated with s...