The third volume in this massive project to create the first complete corpus of the Roman mosaics of Britain covers the areas of Britain that were first to come under Roman control and where some of Britain's most impressive mosaics are to be found - in Colchester, Silchester, London and Verulamium, and in villas and palaces at Brading, Bignor, Fishbourne and Rockbourne. In their introduction to the volume, the authors trace the origins of mosaic-making in Britain, and the development of colour palettes and motifs, from the mainly black-and-white geometric designs of first-century Fishbourne Palace, reflecting contemporary Gaulish fashions, to the more elaborate polychrome designs of the third and fourth centuries, featuring figures from classical mythology, some of which (like Brading's Orpheus taming the animals with his music, or Lullingstone's Bellerophon slaying the Chimera) had been invested with new meaning as symbols of Christianity. They consider too the types of buildings with which mosaics are associated, the functions of mosaic-decorated rooms, the materials from which they are made, the impact of mosaic discoveries on early antiquaries and the pioneering mosaic paintings of artists such as Richard Smirke and Charles Stothard, published in Samuel Lysons' Reliquae Britanniae Romanae (1817). The catalogue follows the format of earlier volumes in providing an account of each mosaic's discovery and locating the mosaic within its building plan. Every mosaic is described, with significant parallels and major references, and illustrated with the authors' own paintings, reproductions of historic engravings and photographs, taken in situ wherever possible, before lifting or restoration. The result is an unrivalled scholarly resource for anyone interested in Roman art, craftsmanship, architecture and social life, which will shortly be complete with the publication of the fourth and final volume on Western Britain, including Wales.

Roman Mosaics of Britain, Vol. 3: South-East Britain (2 Book Set)

History

Cosh, Stephen R.

Neal, David S.

Ancient Civilizations

Society of Antiquaries of London

This volume brings to a triumphant conclusion this monumental project to catalogue, describe and illustrate every Romano-British mosaic. The area covered by the fourth and final volume in the corpus is one of the richest regions of Britain in economic as well as architectural and artistic terms and this is reflected in the quantity and quality of the region's mosaics, which include the largest figured mosaic ever found in Britain - the Woodchester Orpheus pavement - which was perhaps the inspiration for the other famous Orpheus mosaics of the Roman Cotswolds. At the heart of this affluent region is Cirencester, Roman Britain's second largest town, represented here by more than sixty mosaics, the second-century examples being the most exquisite in the country. There are also many fine mosaics from the region's highly ornate villas, as well as from the towns of Gloucester, Caerwent and Wroxeter. The catalogue follows the format of earlier volumes in providing an account of each mosaic's discovery and locating the mosaic within its building plan. Following the description are notable parallels and major references. Many of the illustrations are by the authors, with additional ones by Luigi Thompson, as well as photographs and historical engravings, a high proportion of the latter by Samuel Lysons whose home was in Gloucestershire where he did much of his pioneering work in archaeological excavation and illustration. Brief biographies of Lysons and all the other artists whose work grace all four volumes appear at the end of this volume. As with previous volume the work is preceded with a substantial introduction. This deals with the history and topography of the region, buildings and rooms, an assessment of regional workshops, and schemes, ending with a consideration of mosaics in relation to the end of Roman Britain. Table of Contents List of Donors List of Illustrations Acknowledgements Introduction: History; History of Discoveries; Buildings; Rooms; Figured Pavements; Labyrinths; Organization of the Craft; Schemes; Materials; The Catalogue; Mosaics and the End of Roman Britain; The Legacy of Romano-British Mosaics Catalogue: Mosaics from Gloucestershire; Mosaics from Oxfordshire; Mosaics from other English Counties (Cheshire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire); Mosaics from Wales Appendix I: new mosaics, additional information and errata relating to Vols I to III Appendix II (with M J Cosh): list of artists whose works feature in all four volumes, with short biographies Sources of Illustrations Glossary Bibliography Index

Roman Mosaics of Britain: Volume IV - Western Britain

Arts & Photography

History & Criticism

This is a supplementary volume to the corpus of Romano-British mosaics published by the Society of Antiquaries of London between 2002 and 2010 (Volumes I-IV). It is in two parts: an overview, discussing various aspects of Romano-British mosaic study with special emphasis on recent research and discoveries, while the second part is a catalogue of new mosaic discoveries, re-excavation and new research of known pavements, in the same format as previous volumes. Volume V includes the recently discovered figurative mosaics at Ketton, Rutland, and Boxford, Berks, which are regarded as perhaps the most significant examples revealed for 60 years. Also included is the mausoleum uncovered in Southwark in 2023.The corpus is an outstanding work of scholarship which has become the standard reference work for Roman mosaics in Britain. The authors have gathered all the known sources and references to the mosaics, with many illustrated through paintings and drawings made in situ. These are works of art in their own right.

Roman Mosaics of Britain: Volume V - Discoveries and Research Since 2010

This first volume of a four-volume corpus of Roman mosacis in Britain covers the north and east from Northants to Yorkshire and from Warwickshire to East Anglia. The book begins with a general introduction on mosaics and their construction and their workshop groups, and then proceeds to the catalogue, which includes every mosaic known, described by county and by site, with a description and an illustration - these are generally in colour and are taken from the best sources - published as engravings, photos, or from meticulous paintings, most of which are by David Neal. It is a sumptuous volume, and an indispensable work of reference.

Roman Mosaics of Britain Volume 1: Northern Britain

Roman Mosaics of Britain is the culmination of more than seventy years of combined research and meticulous draughtsmanship by the authors, who are both in the forefront of mosaic scholarship. Their work, to be published in four volumes, is a complete illustrated catalogue of every known Romano-British mosaic - nearly 2000 in all - of which almost 450 feature in Volume II. Presented in the form of a county gazetteer, each mosaic is described, with drawings, photographs of figured elements and references. In many cases, the entry is illustrated by one of the authors' detailed paintings, which are faithful to the colour and composition of each mosaic. This volume contains some of the finest Romano-British mosaics ever uncovered. The South West has Britain's greatest concentration of figured mosaics, including, at Hinton St Mary, one of the earliest depictions of Christ. Several pavements illustrate scenes from Virgil's Aeneid or Ovid's Metamorphosis . As well as the organisation of the craft, the history of mosaic discoveries, building types, room function, figured work and schemes are considered. Each county has its own detailed introduction.

Roman Mosaics of Britain: Volume II - South-West Britain