The Greeks, to images of gods and muses remained for centuries, did not write them with paint, and "recruited" from colored stones, and later was used for this piece of specially brewed opaque glass - smalt.These "pictures" that survived through the centuries in its original form, are called - "Mosaic".

Mosaic (latin. musivum, literally - dedicated to the Muses) - one of the main types of monumental and decorative art.It is an image or pattern, made of similar or different material particles (stones, smalt, ceramic tile, glass, bone and other materials).Mosaics are drawn from pieces that are simple or complex geometric shapes, which are fixed in a layer of lime, cement, putty or wax.There are two stages set Mosaic: "direct", in which the particles are pressed against the back side of enshrining the mass deposited on the decorated surface, and "reverse" when the particles are glued face-to technological design and then filled in fixing the composition. After curing the resulting mosaic block is removed and mounted on a wall, ceiling or floor.

Mosaic of colored stones - one of the oldest forms of art that existed even before our era.Depending on manufacturing techniques, mosaics are divided into: Alexandrian, Roman, Russian and Florentine. The most difficult of them - Florentine.

Mosaic originated in ancient times.One of the most effective, long-lasting (mosaic is preserved for thousands of years) and labor-intensive types of monumental and decorative painting. Created from the smalt, colored stones or ceramic tiles.Smalt - colored opaque glass in the form of cubes and plates used for making mosaics.

The word mosaic. came to us from the Italian language - means "built from pieces."Each of the pieces is their color, hue, is in a certain plane can be glossy or matte, can reflect light, creating a natural surface mossaic's glare.For example, the ability to reflect light glossy tile used to create a play of light: a ray of sunlight penetrating into the interior, getting on the mosaic is reflected at an angle, conceived by the authorit allows you to see the product coming out, and fashioned out of light and even stronger ties to the interior mosaics.In painting, the paint brush stroke emphasizes the form and how-to volume sculpts.

Working with smalt requires good spatial reasoning, because to make a mosaic - not to draw the outline, put them smalt - it will be applique, but not mosaic.

Mosaic, which is extraordinarily rich and spectacular painting technique is widely used in the past for the design of churches and palaces, in the recent past - in the decoration of public buildings and subways.Currently, mosaics are used not only to decorate temples and residential interiors as well as sites of cultural leisure activities.