This workshop offers the opportunity to recreate a Roman pavement using the direct mortar technique, under the supervision of a master mosaicist. Participants will learn how to cut materials with a hammer, prepare and select tesserae, and analyze ancient and modern andamenti. They will learn to manage rhythm, continuity, and movement in the composition, while developing their sense of form, color, and texture. Theory will be immediately put into practice, allowing participants to master essential techniques and create a pavement faithful to the principles of classical mosaic.

Upon completion of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Perform the basic operations of marble cutting with a hammer
• Use mortar correctly
• Know and recognize the different andamenti in classical mosaic

Throughout the sessions, participants will learn the essential basics of mosaic techniques, both traditional and contemporary. They will begin by learning how to use a hammer to precisely cut the materials, then discover how to prepare and select tesserae according to their function and the desired visual effect.

The study of andamenti, the movement and arrangement of tesserae, will be a key element of the program. Participants will explore the classic patterns of ancient pavements, analyze the characteristics of Roman andamenti and the solutions used in ancient mosaics, and then examine modern variations to understand their evolution. They will also learn to interpret the principles of rhythm, continuity, and direction of movement, essential for designing a harmonious and legible pavement.
The training will then include in-depth work on composition using the direct technique. Participants will develop their sense of form, color, and texture through a series of exercises integrated into the final project. An introduction to the main rules for reading a mosaic will allow them to understand the visual and structural challenges inherent in this art form.

Each theoretical concept will be immediately applied in the workshop, facilitating the acquisition of skills. Thanks to this progressive and practical approach, participants will be able, by the end of the training, to understand, analyze, and reproduce a mosaic pavement while respecting the fundamental principles of classical mosaic.

Schedule

Day 1

Morning

• Introduction to tools, the subject, and materials
• Brief introduction to andamenti

Afternoon

• Cutting different types of marble with a hammer, practice with simple tesserae

Day 2

Morning

• Cutting different types of marble with a hammer, advanced practice with complex tesserae

Afternoon

• Cutting different types of marble with a hammer, advanced practice with complex tesserae

Day 3

Morning

• Presentation and explanation of the choice of marble range for the subject, and of the mortars
• Start of the project

Afternoon

• Continuation of the project

Day 4

Morning

• Continuation of the project
• Individual follow-up

Afternoon

• Continuation of the project

Day 5

Morning

• Continuation of the project

• Finalization of the project
• Summary of key points in the creation of the project
• Review of the training
• Workshop cleanup

• Classroom instruction
• Materials provided
• Individual work
• Practical workshop activities, exercises to learn the basics of Italian mosaic crafts

• Individual monitoring of work, with regular checks
• Self-assessment of acquired technical skills
• Group presentation of work
• Signing of the attendance register at the end of each half-day session
• Certificate of participation issued by Campus MaNa