From the earliest mosaics in 4th century BCEGreece and the Byzantine splendour of Hagia Sophia to the celebratory friezeencircling the Royal Albert Hall, and Eduardo Paolozzi's commission for theLondon Underground, this book reveals the technical and stylistic evolution ofmosaic, and its prominence in political, public and civic spaces.Drawing on a conference at the V&A, supported by theGilbert Trust for the Arts, this volume provides both a sweeping history of thecraft and fascinating insight into key events. These include the competitionjudged by Titian, Tintoretto, Schiavone and Veronese in 16th centuryVenice to choose a mosaicist for St Mark's Basilica and the prominence ofmosaic in Fascist Italy, Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia.The volume also considers the practical - the collection andpreservation of micromosaics and also their creation through an interview withMaurizio Fiorvanti, a jeweller who has mastered the technique of micromosaicsand continues to create exquisite pieces from his studio in Rome.