Putti grape pickers, Roman Empire 2nd-3rd century B.C.

Our ancient Roman mosaic reveals two winged puttis that stand out distinctly from a black background. This shows the artist’s technical mastery, which demonstrates great finesse in using small-sized tiles. This is a meticulous work mainly visible in the treatment of hands and faces. The puttis are placed on abundant vine-beds because it was common for Roman artists to invoke plant motifs as a narrative framework. To this end, the iconographic theme can be compared with the Dionysian cult.

A cult that is widely spread due to Roman domination and the phenomenon of Hellenization associated with it. As a result, the Dionysian motifs are widespread in the Mediterranean field (Italy, Roman Gaul, Roman North Africa); and become common between the 2nd and 4th century AD.

The putto on the right picks up the grapes in a hoist, and the gesture of the one on the left may suggest that he is about to pick the grape. This refers to the harvest, a crucial moment in the agricultural cycle! The vintage is an iconographic motif that has been used in antiquity, symbolizing both prosperity and the festive dimension of wine production. Closely linked to the Dionysian cult, it is symbolically related to abundance and fertility.

In this sense, our mosaic is probably from a production aimed at the elites who had a particular taste for Dionysian motifs. Symbol of conviviality and social prestige, its mosaics could be installed in reception rooms. In addition, the invocation of the black background can be linked to the new taste of the elites in late Roman art, promoting a refined aesthetic with luxurious rendering.

Mosaic dating back to the 18th century on a slate with marble framing.
Comes from an old Parisian collection.

Height: 59 cm
Width: 94 cm