Final answer:
A mosaic is an artistic technique that uses small pieces of colored stone, glass, or tile called tesserae to create an image or pattern, commonly found on floors, walls, and ceilings, including in ancient Roman buildings and Byzantine churches.
Step-by-step explanation:
An artwork made by arranging tiny pieces of colored stone or glass is known as a mosaic. Mosaics are ancient forms of art that utilized small cubes called tesserae made of stone, glass, ceramic, or other durable materials to create detailed patterns or images. The use of mosaics was prominent in ancient Roman decor, notably on floors such as those at the Baths of Neptune in Ostia, and they resembled almost like paintings due to the small, colored tesserae. Not only floors but walls, ceilings, and even in Byzantine churches were ornately decorated with mosaics using marble, stone, or glass, often with gold leaf between the layers to enhance their grandeur.
The process of creating mosaics involves gluing the tesserae onto a wall or surface, and once the adhesive dries, spreading grout over the top to seal it in place. This art form has survived centuries, used in ancient decorative architectural elements, rich Byzantine church ornaments, and even in contemporary artistic expressions. While fresco became a more popular wall decoration due to its speedier execution and lower cost during the Renaissance, the art of mosaics persists to this day, with examples in mosques that use these intricate designs to create flowing patterns.