Near East / Holy Land, Byzantine Empire, ca. 9th to 11th century CE. A tall, handsome mosaic depicting a young man holding an armful of food - possibly cuts of meat, possibly large fruit - in a white cloth stretched between his raised hands. The man is dressed like a peasant, with a colorful yellow, red, and pink tunic, white stockings, and tall, black boots. The white cloth is probably an apron, worn by both men and women. The figure has a thoughtful face, with the eyes depicted looking off to one side, as if thinking of something other than the present. He has short, thick, dark hair. What else once occupied the scene is not clear, but there are objects to left and right of the standing young man. Size of mosaic: 24.5" W x 44.5" H (62.2 cm x 113 cm); size of frame: 26.25" W x 46.25" H (66.7 cm x 117.5 cm)

Mosaics (opus tesellatum) are some of our enduring images from the Byzantine world. They reveal everyday life, social interactions, and even things like clothing styles, personal ornament, and the interior of buildings in ways other styles of Byzantine art generally do not. This mosaic would have decorated the home of a wealthy patron of the arts, and probably formed part of a floor.

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection

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#135634

Mounted in plaster matrix. Tesserae are generally in nice condition, with some small losses. All are original.