Mosaics go back in time around 4,000 years when terracotta cones were inserted point-first to give a decorative effect. By the eighth century BC pebble pavements were being made and then later patterns were introduced that became ever more intricate.
The Greeks turned these pebble works into an art form with geometric patterns, animals and people being introduced. The Romans spread the art form around their Empire usually creating scenes in a more simplified way then had been produced by the artisans of their country.
Moorish Art The Moors brought their Islamic art form into the Iberian peninsula using mainly geometric and mathematical designs such as those in the Mezquita in Cordoba and the Alhambra Palace in Granada.
Guadi Art In the 20th century The Art Nouveau movement and Antoni Gaudi along with Josep Maria Jujol produced the amazing ceramic mosaics of the Guell Park. They used purpose-made and waste tiles to cover surfaces of buildings and also incorporated broken crockery.
In the sometimes harsh climate of Andalucia, freezing winters on higher ground and scorching summers the medium of tile is perfect as the colours don't fade and the ceramic doesn't expand and contract much with the cold and heat. |
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