A dog and cat micromosaic, Italy, early 19th century

A circular micro-mosaic panel depicting two animals, a dog and a feline in a rural landscape. One is rendered in shades of orange-brown and white, the other white with dark patches; both are poised, ready to defend themselves or attack. The scene unfolds in a natural setting featuring tree trunks in the foreground, opening up in the background towards a hill and a stream lined with vegetation. The panel is set within a circular gilded brass frame.
Visible micro-mosaic: 6 cm
The whole is executed using extremely fine tesserae, allowing for subtle shading and a highly detailed rendering, particularly in the depiction of the animals’ coats and expressions. This quality of execution is characteristic of early 19th-century Roman micro-mosaic works.