Pair Of Roman Micromosaics, Rome, Ca. 1770–1780

An elegant pair of micromosaics depicting animated harbor views, created in Rome during the pioneering phase of the technique, between the seventh and eighth decades of the 18th century. The compositions feature coastal towers and fortified buildings overlooking the sea, with sailing vessels and figures engaged in fishing or resting along the shore. Conceived as architectural capriccios, the landscapes combine the late Baroque taste for scenography with early Neoclassical accents, offering an idealized and picturesque image of the Mediterranean coasts. For their quality and choice of subjects, these works belong to the earliest Roman productions intended for collectors and Grand Tour travelers, at a time when micromosaic was emerging as a refined and autonomous artistic expression.