by Paloma Pajares-Ayuela

The unique study of the distinctive colorful geometric mosaics created in hundreds of late medieval buildings in Rome and environs (and such far-flung locations as Westminster Abbey) by a group of artisans called the Cosmati is a treasure trove of information and pattern for art and architectural historians and designers in every medium.

Cosmatesque Ornament richly illustrates Cosmatesque monuments and techniques in over 300 pages with 600 photographs defining its distinctive geometric and mathematical basis. It provides a fascinating look at the state of building in Rome after the fall of the empire; an analysis of the symbolic meaning behind the quincunx, the quintessential Cosmatesque sites; and a close examination of the pavement of the Schola Cantorum in the Church of San Clemente, Rome.

Cosmatesque Ornament is the definitive study of this unique form of architectural ornament. Art historians, designers, architects, mosaicists, archaeologists, and all craftsmen who delight in ornament will want to keep this book on hand as an invaluable addition to both their personal and professional libraries.

Contents

1. Panorama: Flat Polychrome Geometric Ornamentation in the Western Empire During the Middle Ages

2. Rome: Cosmatesque Site par Excellence

3. Antecedents: Local Tradition and Byzantine Influence

4. The Regulating Geometry: The Basic Repertoire of Constant Geometric Motifs

5. The Signification: The Cosmatesque Quincunx: A Double-Cross Motif

6. Analysis of a Mosaic: The Pavement of the Schola Cantorum of San Clemente

Index

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