Utilisation et production de tesselles de mosaïque à l’époque romane d’après Théophile

Only chapters 12 and 15 of De diversis artibus approach the subject of the mosaic. They give important information, not just technically, but also on the author-compiler of the Treaty. This article aims to analyze the figures in these chapters to understand specific aspects of mosaic art and to consider the impact of technological studies on the general interpretation of De diversis artibus. The informations in chapter 12 are well documented by archeology and archaeometry. Instead an unlikely recipe is listed in chapter 15. Indeed the objects described in chapters 13-16 are defined as “Greek”, probably imported in Northern Europe. Why are these artifacts would they not been manufactured in Western Europe? One hypothesis, supported by archaeometric data and texts, is advanced here: the relationship between the gold coinage and the production of mosaics in gold leaf.