(map) 
Since time immemorial, artists have drawn on the works from older ages for inspiration. Whether an artist was evolutionary or revolutionary in relation to what came before, the fact remains that the previous generation, style, period, or movement has always had an effect on what followed.
One need only look at the eras of Western art, for example, in reverse chronological order to realize how intertwined they all are to one another. Contemporary art draws from post-modernism, which drew from modernism, which evolved out of Realism, which in turn drew on Romanticism, Neo-classic before that, the Baroque before, Mannerist, the Renaissance in all its forms, Gothic, Romanesque, Byzantine, Ancient Roman, Ancient Greek, etc etc etc. There is an obvious, and fully researched thread that connects each period and artists to those that came before. “Standing on the shoulder of giants…” indeed.
The recent discovery of a series of 2000+ year old mosaics in an Ancient Roman villa near Fiumicino (at a shopping mall construction site!) emphatically confirms the above-mentioned art-historical truth. Prof. Pino Poli-Scalderei, Professor Emeritus of Classical Archeology at the Universita’ della Sapienza di Roma, who has overseen the dig, is understandably excited about the artwork in the aptly-yet-not-so-creatively named “Stanza dei Mosaici Ovali” (Room of the oval mosaics).
“These treasures that have come to us from the past are not only perfectly conserved, but we can unequivocally state for a fact that subsequent artists from later ages drew on these masterpieces for inspiration. The Moses figured in the east corner is certain to have influenced the Buonarotti (Michelangelo) in the creation of his sculpture for the Pope Julius II tomb series, while the Venus at the northern end is now the earliest intact mosaic representation of the goddess that we are aware of. Later artists such as Botticelli surely stood in this very spot and produced their masterpieces inspired by the original that is before us.”
The Professor is particularly intrigued about the mosaic in the western alcove. He has not yet made a public statement about who or what god it represents, although he is quite pleased about the fact that it has an uncanny resemblance to Garibaldi, particularly given that this year is the 150th year anniversary since the founding of Italy, that this is the month of April… and that today is the 1st!
Like most of the Italian Notebook postings, I was getting my hat and readying a trip to visit the site – that is, until I read the article all the way through! Good one, GB!
good one! the art historical ‘analysis’ and the prof’s name were nice big hints!
Some are difficult to see, the only one I could recognize is Giuseppe Garibaldi who talked Sicily into becoming a part of Italy which the sicilians resent to this day…
I wondered what ‘fish’ you’d fry today! This is well up to your usual April 1st standard GB. Well done.
Got me on that one, GB! Nice “ancient Roman” mosaics!
Almost a gotta ya moment!
The professor’s name was a tip-off.
However, it is true that the Italians are very excited about the 150th Anniversary of Giuseppe Garibaldi’s birth as evidenced by our G’Son and his new bride when they recently honeymooned in several regions of Italy.
Well there is one and only one GB, that is for sure!! Like Lisa Finerty I was so excited and gettting ready to head up to Fuimincino when I read on! Good on ya GB!
As I only just read this today, the 3rd of April, I was doubly confounded. So tempting to believe! You know your audience well.