| agent |
after Philoxenos of Eretria (Greek (ancient) painter, active late 4th century BCE);
unknown (Samnite or Greek mosaicist)
|
| culturalContext |
Greek (ancient); Roman Samnite |
| date |
ca. 100 BCE (creation) |
| description |
The greatest number of fine mosaics in any one house came from the House of the Faun,
dating to ca. 100 BCE. Outstanding here is the Alexander Mosaic, probably representing
the Battle of Issus [Issos] in Cilicia between Alexander the Great (reigned 336-323
BCE) and Darius III (reigned 335-331 BCE). The panel contained an estimated four million
tesserae, all of natural stone, in a four-colour technique recalling that of Greek
Late Classical painting; it was undoubtedly copied from an original painting, usually
ascribed to Philoxenos of Eretria, done shortly after the battle itself. This painting
was a commission for Kassander of Macedon and depicted either that at Issos (333 BCE)
or that at Gaugamela (331 BCE).
Grove Art Online; http://www.oxfordartonline.com (accessed 5/25/2009) [description source] |
| inscription |
|
| location |
Museo Archeologico Nazionale (Naples, Campania, Italy) 10020 [repository]
House of the Faun (Pompeii, Campania, Italy) [formerSite] |
| material |
stone tesserae |
| measurements |
3.13 m (width) x 5.82 m (length) |
| relation |
formerlyPartOf House of the Faun [Core 4 Sample Database, refid="18" relids="w_17"] |
| rights |
|
| source |
Core 4 Sample Database (VCat) |
| stateEdition |
|
| stylePeriod |
Greco-Roman; Hellenistic |
| subject |
historical; military; war; rulers and leaders; Alexander, the Great, 356-323 B.C.;
Darius III, King of Persia, d. 330 B.C.
|
| technique |
mosaic (process) |
| textref |
|
| title |
Battle between Alexander the Great and Darius III [cited, true, en]
Battle of Issus [cited, false, en]
Alexander Mosaic [cited, false, en] |
| worktype |
mosaics (visual works) |
|
|
|
[refid 121]
View of right half, with Darius in his chariot |
|
|
[refid 122]
Close-up of Alexander on horse |
|
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|
| images courtesy Saskia Ltd. |
|
|
| images courtesy Saskia Ltd. |
|
