{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O137814"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O137814/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CE2306/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2009CE2306/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2009CE2306","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O137814/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O137814","accessionNumber":"167-1869","objectType":"Mosaic","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"The mosaic decoration in San Marco, filling the domes and lower wall surfaces, followed Byzantine models. This fragment is from a scene showing Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended on Christ’s disciples. Below the disciples are figures representing the provinces that each disciple converted. This head is a personification of Mesopotamia, made in Italy (Venice) in ca. 1100-1150.","physicalDescription":"Mosaic depicting the head of a personification of Mesopotamia. Composed of Coloured and gilded glass tesserae set in plaster.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"glass","id":"AAT10797"},{"text":"","id":""},{"text":"plaster","id":"AAT14922"}],"techniques":[{"text":"mosaic","id":"AAT138684"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Coloured and gilded glass tesserae set in plaster","categories":[{"text":"Architecture","id":"THES48993"},{"text":"Mosaic","id":"THES253095"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2009CE2306"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"8 (VA)","id":"THES49714"},"free":"","case":"WS","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Mosaic","id":"AAT138684"}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Venice","id":"x29237"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1100-1150","earliest":"1100-01-01","latest":"1150-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"46","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"43.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries 2006","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"From the Basilica of S. Marco, Venice. Given to the museum by Salviati and co.","historicalContext":"The construction of the basillica of Saint Mark in Venice was begun in the the eleventh century. The upper orders of the interior are copmpletely decorated with mosaics.\r\n\r\nIn 1867 Salviati and co. were awarded exclusive rights to remove parts of the original decoration of San Marco while conducting restoration of the decoration. During this work sections of mosaic were removed and either consolidated and reset or replaced with copies more or less faithful to the originals. Only a few fragments removed from the church during this restoration have been reported. This head has been identified as a detail removed from the west dome. The head comes from one of a series of figures which in pairs represent The Nations. These included: the Arabs, Egyptians, Romans and Mesopotamians . The inclusion of these figures reflects the outward looking ethos of what was a highly mobile mercantile nation.","briefDescription":"Mosaic, fragment, tesserae of couloured and gilt glass, head of a personification of Mesopotamia, Italy (Venice), ca. 1100-1150","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"<font -u>List of Objects in the Art Division, South Kensington, Acquired During the Year 1869, Arranged According to the Dates of Acquisition.</font> London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., p. 13"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Otto, Demus. <font -u>The Mosaic Decoration of San Marco, Venice.</font> Chicago; London: University of Cicago Press, 1988, I/1, pp. 148-149, I/2, pl. 193"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Andreescu Treadgold, Irina. The Wall Mosaics of San Michele in Africisco, Ravenna Rediscovered. <font -u>In</font>: <font -u>XXXVII Corso di Cultura sull'Arte Ravennate e Bizantina.</font> Ravenna: Ed. del Girasole, 1990, p. 43, note. 37"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Cutler, Anthony and E. A. Dale. Two New Venetian Fragments and the Study of Italo-Byzantine Mosaic. <font -u>Arte Medievale.</font> 2. Ser. 7. 1993, pp. 103-104, n. 22"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Andreescu Treadgold, Irina. The Real and the Fake: Two Mosaic from Venice in American Collections. <font -u>Studi Veneziani.</font> N. S. 36, 1998, p. 281, n. 13"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Andreescu Treadgold, Irina. Salviati a San Marco e Altri Suoi Restauri. <font -u>In</font>: Vio, Ettore, ed. <font -u>Scienza e Tecnica del Restauro della Basilica di San Marco.</font> Venezia, 1999, pp. 484-487, figs. 13-15b"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[{"text":"Pentecost","id":"V32"}],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["167-1869"],"accessionNumberNum":"167","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1869,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LN5759","2019LT5156","2019LU5441"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-05","recordCreationDate":"2007-07-23","availableToBook":false}}