Design after a Mosaic, Monreale, Sicily 19th-20th century

Editor: This is Denman Waldo Ross's "Design after a Mosaic, Monreale, Sicily." It's a pencil drawing, and it looks like a close-up of a mosaic design. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Let's consider the labor involved in both the original mosaic and Ross's reproduction. The mosaic itself, what materials were available, who were the artisans, and what was the social hierarchy dictating the design and its execution? Editor: That's a fascinating way to look at it! I was just thinking about the visual design. Curator: And Ross's drawing is a study in consumption. What was his purpose in copying this design? Was it for personal study, or was it intended for wider distribution, perhaps influencing textile or wallpaper production? Editor: I hadn't thought about how the materials and labor connect the original to this reproduction. Thanks! Curator: It’s all about understanding the journey of materials and ideas through different social contexts.