Mosaic of the Grand Tour. Rome, ca. 1885

Mosaic of the Grand Tour. Rome, ca. 1885.
Different types of marble.
Measurements: 13,5 x 9 x 1 cm.

The one we now present is a panel with different types of marble made during the Grand Tour. This type of objects, popular among the wealthy society in the 18th and 19th centuries, combined ancient history and geology in a decorative and functional souvenir.

The term "Grand Tour", which first appeared in Richard Lassels' "The Voyage d'Italie", was used to define the long journey through Europe, especially Italy, which was routinely undertaken by young British aristocrats from the 17th century onwards, but especially throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. The purpose of the trip was for young people to become acquainted with the art and culture of France and Italy, to admire classical art at first hand, to learn or improve their knowledge of languages, and to establish contacts and relationships with the cultural and political elites of these countries. Travelers were often looking for pieces with which to start their own art collections, objects to take back to their places of residence as souvenirs. For this reason, workshops specialized in the replica of Roman pieces, both in bronze and marble, emerged, some of which acquired a great reputation.