Turquoise flowers

The inspiration for this artwork comes from looking to all the flowers represented in the history of Commesso Fiorentino. One day, when Leonardo was in the beginning of his career, his father Renzo, one of the most important mosaicist in the world, told him: "If you will be able to give armony, delicacy and softness to the petals of the flowers you will became a really great mosaicist". After Renzo's word Leonardo spent lot of time around the museums trying to discover the secrets behind the magnificent tables made in Commesso Fiorentino.

He always tries to remember what Renzo said and to put all his best to reproduce that sense of truthfulness in his floreal artwork.

Stones used: Turquoise, Diasper from Sicily, Onix, Belgium Black Marble.

Year of composition: 2016

Size: cm 32.5x38

Artist: Leonardo Scarpelli

An original and authentic hand-made artwork created whith the antique technique of Commesso Fiorentino which is unique for Florence.

Commesso Fiorentino was born with Medici family, one of the most important families in Florence, in the second half of 1500.

The research of the stones is made by the mosaicist that must be able to choose from a rich and wide range of shades and veins: for this reason the artists personally search and collect the stones retracing the paths of the Medici researchers.

The processing starts by drawing the subject on adhesive paper, that is then cut into small tamplates that will be attached to the variegated shades of the stones following the visual instinct, the innate gift of the artist and his perfect knowledge of the materials. The shape of the little piece will be cut by hand with a chestnut, cherry or hazelnut wood bow and an iron wire that flows with abrasive powder and water. It creates a very precise and inclined cut to form the essential spaces to accommodate the glue, made by artisans with beeswax and pine tree resin. The different stones are previously glued onto a slate surface which acts as a support during the cutting and filing phase. The various pieces which form the composition are adjusted in shape with diamond files, glued together so that the joints are invisible, flattened and finally polished in order to create a perfect decorative harmony showing the colors of nature in all their radiance.