A Society member recently emailed me:
“Exactly how is a Montici mosaic made?”
I explain the mosaic-making process in words on the “Authentication & Valuation” page, but she wanted a video:
“It’s the 21st century, Michael. Get with it,” she laughed.
Got it.
I did a Web search and quickly discovered two great YouTube videos. They show the Montici mosaic production process in action, delivering a more colorful, exciting, and comprehensible explanation than my boring Boomer block of type.
The first is a short, 5-minute video produced in 2018. Bruno Lastrucci demonstrates how the Montici Workshop created its famous pietra dura mosaics. Bruno served as Richard’s mosaics maestro for many years. He was also a close, personal friend of Richard. For Bruno’s full biography, see the “Members Only” page on this website.
The second is a slightly longer, 7-minute video released in 2020. It features the Opificio delle Pietre Dure (Workshop of Semi-Precious Stones), an institute of the Italian Ministry for Cultural Heritage. Based in Florence, the Opificio traces its history back to 1588, and its creation by Grand Duke Ferdinando I de Medici. Richard Blow produced his 20th century Montici mosaics using the same 16-th century techniques developed by the Opificio.
For convenience, I have also added a new, drop-down tab called “Making a Mosaic” to the main menu on the Home Page. You can access the videos via that tab as well.
Buon divertimento!
Michael Schmicker