Roberto Grieco
Mosaic maker
Rome, Italy
Recommended by Clara Tosi Pamphili
Eternal reflections of light
- Roberto spent 25 years working in the Vatican Mosaic Studio
- He specialises in the traditional Roman craft of micromosaic
- He is dedicated to reviving and reinterpreting this intricate technique
Raised in the shadow of the Vatican, Roberto Grieco turned a childhood fascination with St. Peter’s mosaics into a lifelong journey. He initially trained in scenography, but soon after embarked on 25 years of work at the Vatican Mosaic Studio, becoming one of the few artisans in the world specialised in the ancient craft of micromosaic. In his Roman atelier, Roberto uses microscopic tiles to create painterly scenes, jewellery pieces and objets d'art. Beyond his creations, Roberto is a committed teacher and the author of books on the history and technique of micromosaics. In 2015, alongside his wife Arianna, he founded Res Musiva to train a new generation of artists, ensuring this rare art form continues to flourish.
INTERVIEW
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.
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.
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.
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
Mosaic maker
Rome, Italy
Recommended by Clara Tosi Pamphili
AVAILABILITY
By appointment only
PHONE
+39 3473147626
LANGUAGES
Italian
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