Roman, the Levant, late Imperial Period, ca. 4th century CE. A mesmerizing stone mosaic with hundreds if not thousands of square stone tesserae arranged in an abstract pattern. Four diamonds with flattened points form the motif, with smaller diamonds between and inside of them, in a range of warm colors - ocher yellow, earthy red, creamy white. Mosaics (opus tesellatum) are some of our most enduring images from the Roman world, exciting not only for their aesthetic beauty, but also because they reveal what Romans chose to depict and see every day decorating their private and public spaces. This example is abstract in its intention and presents the ancients' keen eye for design. Size: 25.75" W x 31.25" H (65.4 cm x 79.4 cm)

In the Roman province of Syria, which encompassed most of the ancient Near East/Levant, mosaics developed as a popular art form relatively late, with most finds coming from the 3rd century CE or later. Syria was one of Rome's wealthiest provinces, but it was also far removed from Rome itself and Roman culture was overlaid on enduring cultural traditions from Hellenistic Greece and the great civilizations that came before it. Antioch-on-the-Orontes (modern day Antakya, Turkey), was the capital of northern Roman Syria, and its excavations in the 1930s revealed more than three hundred mosaic pavements - of which many embellished public baths. Popular mosaic themes from this region were often mythological or religious scenes, depicting gods and goddesses; however, sometimes mosaics were created to fit the theme of a building or room.

Provenance: private Dallas, Texas, USA collection, acquired in 1992; ex-Civilization Gallery collection, acquired under the supervision of Dr. Kilinsky, head of SMU archeology department

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All the mosaic tesserae are ancient. Set in a modern matrix and metal frame. Some expected nicks to tesserae and some tiles are lost, which is far from surprising; however, the vast majority of the composition has survived. Some fissures to the matrix as shown.