Lot 789 Dα

Among many other things, the Russian scientist Mikhail Vasilyevich Lomonosov (1711 – 1765) also concerned himself with the Italian technique of micromosaic. He carried out almost 3,000 experiments to research the production of brightly coloured glass and in 1763 he founded the only micromosaic workshop to exist outside of Italy. Around 40 items have been attributed so far to the manufactory, of which only 24 still exist today. The Gilbert Collection houses a micromosaic depiction of the Virgin Mary measuring 63.1 x 49.9 mm based on a painting by Francesco Solimena that was presented to Tzarina Elisabeth in 1752. The present panel is smaller, but similar in subject and technique.