Roberto Grieco

Mosaic maker

©Roberto Grieco

Eternal reflections of light

Roberto spent 25 years in the Vatican Mosaic Studio
He specialises in the traditional Roman craft of micromosaic
The colourful tesserae are smaller than 1mm

After high school, Roberto Grieco studied scenography at the Fine Arts Academy but he did not spend one single day of his life creating scenes for movies or theatres. Born close to the Vatican, he became fascinated by the mosaics of the St. Peter’s Cathedral at an early age and he ended up spending 25 years in the Vatican Mosaic Studio, becoming one of the few master artisans in Europe specialised in the ancient craft of micromosaic. In his Roman atelier, he uses microscopic tiles to create unique pieces - painting-like scenes or accessories such as cufflinks or watches - inspired by the gifts and souvenirs that the 18th century aristocrats used to bring back from Rome to their countries after their Grand Tour.

Interview

©Roberto Grieco

©Roberto Grieco

How did you learn your craft?: It happened by chance. I used to live close to the Vatican City, and I was fascinated by the breathtaking mosaics of the Basilica. I learnt my craft at the Vatican Mosaic Studio where I spent 25 years of my life.
What is micromosaic exactly?: It is a technique born in the late 18th century, here in Rome, to satisfy the requests of aristocrats enjoying their Grand Tour in Italy. They admired the Roman mosaics and wanted an exclusive souvenir, something precious but small.
What do you like about micromosaic?: Micromosaic tesserae are so small that they allow you to create a type of mosaic painting, and the variety of colours is unlimited. They are special too as the tiles make fascinating reflections of light thanks to their vitreous properties.
What does well made mean to you?: My craft is all about passion, consistency and a lot of precision, but it is not a mechanical work. The traces of the handicraft must always be recognizable. A well made mosaic is eternal, for the inherent qualities of the materials that we use.

Roberto Grieco is a master artisan: he began his career in 1978 and he started teaching in 1991