Bücher von Patricia Witts

This fully illustrated study brings together over 70 prints and drawings of mosaics from the collection of nearly 3,000 items formed by Richard Topham (1671-1730). Some are the only known records of mosaics that no longer survive, and many are published here for the first time. The book includes a detailed biographical chapter on Topham himself. The drawings, mostly by Francesco Bartoli (1670-1733) and Gaetano Piccini (1681-1736) showing mosaics displayed in Rome, are described and discussed in detail, comparing them with drawings in other collections and with the original mosaics where they survive. The small but important section relating to Roman Britain, including the Stonesfield and Woodchester mosaics, is thoroughly considered, as are the prints which contain some rare items. The concluding chapter includes an appraisal of how the drawings were presented, the artists and their sources, and an evaluation of the drawings as works of art and as archaeological records.

Over 700 creatures of land, sea and sky have been recorded from at least 140 Romano-British mosaics. This comprehensively illustrated book is the first detailed study of them. It identifies and discusses the animals, assesses their role in floor decoration, and explains how they were much more than appealing decoration.