Landscape with a Chapel and a Bridge

The age-old technique of composing mosaics from flat tiles of hard, coloured stones experienced a new and major resurgence in Florence after 1570. Milanese stonecutters, who came to Florence following the renown of Francesco de’ Medici with the intention of working for him there, played an important role in this trend. In 1589, Emperor Rudolf II received an inlaid tabletop made out of stone from Ferdinando I de’ Medici as a gift, which excited him so much that he not only commissioned the manufacturing a similar table in Florence, but also intensified his search for a specialist who could create “commessi di pietre dure” for him in Prague. He ultimately found what he sought in the Florentine Cosimo Castrucci, who was in his service since at least 1592.

In clear contrast to the Florentine mosaics, which favoured abstract and figurative ornamental motifs, Cosimo created for the Emperor above all such works as the signed and dated representation of the Landscape with a Chapel and a Bridge. It shows the characteristic traits of a high perspective over a broad, idyllic landscape with large, imposing stone massifs in the foreground and light, particulate stones in the background.