Mosaics are something we frequently associate with the ancient basilicas of Rome and the like, but the tradition of mosaics extends well beyond the confines of Europe and, fortunately, well into the new world and beyond.
One of the locations in the United States which is well known for its use of mosaic decoration is the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. and St. Jude Liturgical Arts, located in Pennsylvania, was engaged as part of a monumental project for a mosaic for the great central dome of the basilica.
The project involved fourteen million pieces of Venetian glass weighting twenty four tons in total and over one thousand colour variations depicting various saints either associated with the Shrine or the United States more generally. The primary depiction, however, are that of the Holy Trinity, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the Four Evangelists. Let's take a look.
The design is stylistically a mixture of contemporary and traditional composition -- which is to simply say that it doesn't attempt to employ faux primitivism in its execution.
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