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The mosaic of “Mother Earth” starting from the Gates of Paradise, led the faithful on a spiritual journey through the Zodiac, up to the baptismal font, the point of arrival of grace and salvation.
detail of mosaic Mother Earth
“Mother Earth” is the name of a portion of the inlaid marble floor of the Baptistery of Florence, in white Apuan marble and green serpentine from Prato, where fantastic animals of oriental origin are represented.
The simurgs (bird figures from Persian mythology) with the tree of life, the rampant griffins and the beasts shine again thanks to a restoration by the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore.
The restoration was made necessary by the significant state of wear and tear and loss of the material of which the marble “carpet” is made , which had completely or partially erased the features of the original design, and allowed the legibility of the work to be recovered.
The intervention on the marble floors of the Baptistery is part of a larger project by the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore. Starting in 2014, the external facades and the roof covering were restored and then continued with the internal walls with mosaics.
The medieval floors and mosaics of the vault are currently being restored , which began in 2023 and will finish in 4 years.
The restoration was possible thanks to Tauck
The project was made possible thanks to the contribution of Tauck, the leading American cruise and tour operator, which will celebrate its 100th anniversary in Florence during the first week of February.
Vincenzo Vaccaro, councilor of the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore, states: “ We are grateful to Tauck for this contribution that has allowed the restoration of Mother Earth. Private interventions, like this, are important for our institution because they help it to pursue the purposes for which it exists, namely the protection, promotion and enhancement of the monuments of the Cathedral of Florence. The Opera has now been committed for over ten years to the restoration of the Baptistery, one of the symbolic monuments of the city, in order to preserve its extraordinary beauty and give it to the citizens of Florence and to the entire world”.
Jennifer Tombaugh, CEO of Tauck, said, “ We are thrilled to support the restoration of the Mother Earth inlaid marble floor at the Baptistery of San Giovanni as part of our 100th anniversary celebration in Florence. Our purpose is to enhance the lives of our guests by providing them with enriching travel experiences, and as part of that mission, we are committed to protecting and preserving the destinations we visit for future generations. That’s why, in addition to supporting the restoration of Mother Earth, our centennial celebration in Florence also includes more than 1,400 hours of volunteer work, provided by Tauck employees and the Tauck family themselves, on a variety of restoration, beautification and education projects throughout the city.”
Mother Earth after the restoration
Mother Earth: an ancient marble carpet
“Mother Earth” is a floor inlay, probably dating back to the first decades of the 13th century, which represents a key element of the sacred path that was once followed during baptismal processions.
The drawing, a symbol of the earthly world with depictions of animals and plants, starting from the Gates of Paradise, led the faithful through the Zodiac, up to the baptismal font, the point of arrival of grace and salvation.
Over the centuries, wear and tear and trampling have compromised the legibility of the marble carpet, particularly aggravating the deterioration of the green serpentine, subject to progressive fragmentation and detachment. To preserve this masterpiece , the Opera di Santa Maria del Fiore has decided to limit direct access to it, while guaranteeing its visibility to the public.
The restoration intervention allowed to recover the lost geometries, reconstructing the missing parts on the basis of the original design still visible in some areas. The work was carried out in compliance with the principles of recognisability and reversibility, thus ensuring the conservation of the work without compromising its historical authenticity.
Baptistery of Florence, Mother Earth mosaic
atricle by Constance Baldini for intoscana.it
This article is published on ArtAddict Galleria, where we explore the intersections of art, history, and culture. Stay tuned for more insights and discoveries!
