East Meets West: The Perspective in Roman Mosaics

Abstract

The introduction of “perspective” or “third dimension” in the realization of Roman mosaic floors was, from the beginning, subject to a different interpretation in different regions of the Roman Empire.As part of the RoGeMoPorTur project (East meets West. Investigating the reciprocal influence of east and west in the roman geometric mosaics of Portugal and Turkey. A comparative study), which focuses on the process of designing and building geometric mosaics from its inception to the final product allowing the identification of discrete stylistics influencies between the eastern and western shores of the Mediterranean, the rendering of “perspective” plays an important role. With a few chosen examples the eastern stylistic influencies can be clearly identified in some mosaics found in the current territory of Portugal and their connection with the socio-cultural level of the commissioning owner

Keywords

• perspective
• painting
• mosaics
• east and west