The cassine

With the establishment of the basilica mosaic Studio (1881), the original fragments, detached during restoration of the masonry, not reattached and kept in storage, were placed on a layer of mortar on small boxes known as cassine. These pieces are mainly related to the recovery of heads, always considered the most valuable part of the mosaic, being the most difficult to accomplish and entrusted to the senior master.

Many fragments have been salvati during the restauration of the basilica southern façade (1865-1875). This intervention has required the detachment, the distruction and the renewal of nearly a third of the mosaic surface of the Zen's chapel and the baptistery.
In the Studio di mosaico also the ancient mortars are collected with the traces of sinopia, the preparatory drawing for arrangement of the tesserae.

In the new St. Mark's Museum the fragments, grouped by subject with the possibility of offering an almost complete reconstruction of some pictures, provengono quasi tutti dalla cappella Zen e dal battistero.

Image of the mosaic portraying St. Jerome

St. Jerome
Artist’s proof
Mosaicist: Bartolomeo Bozza, 1563



Image of mosaic fragments portraying the pious women

Pious women
Mosaic fragment
11th-12th century


Image of the papercast portraying the angels of the Depositio

Angels
Paper cast
1955




Image of the mosaic fragments portraying St. Mark's head

Mosaic fragment portraying St. Mark's head
The fragment of the figure of St. Mark is from the scene of St. Mark healing a leper, one of the episodes in the life of the saint from the north choir alongside the chancel. The mosaic, made by one of the first workshops of the twelfth century, was removed in the second half of the nineteenth century when it was still preferred to remove the figures during restoration.



Image of the mosaic fragments portraying St. Mark's clothing and feet

Mosaic fragment portraying St. Mark's clothing and feet.
The fragment of the figure of St. Mark is from the scene of St. Mark healing a leper, one of the episodes in the life of the saint from the north choir alongside the chancel. The mosaic, made by one of the first workshops of the twelfth century, was removed in the second half of the nineteenth century when it was still preferred to remove the figures during restoration.




Image of the mosaic fragments portraying the Virgin and Child from the semi-conch above the door

The Virgin and Child from the semi-conch above the door
Mosaic fragments from the Zen chapel - porta da mar
13th - early 14th century



Image of the mosaic fragments portraying the prophet Isaiah

The prophet Isaiah
Mosaic fragments from the Zen chapel - porta da mar
13th - early 14th century




Image of the mosaic fragments portraying the prophets David and Solomon

The prophets David and Solomon
Mosaic fragments from the south wall of the ante-baptistery
14th century



Image of the mosaic fragments portraying the prophet David's clothing and feet

The prophet David (clothing and feet)
Mosaic fragments from the south wall of the ante-baptistery
14th century




Image of the mosaic fragments portraying the prophet Solomon's clothing

The prophet Solomon (clothing)
Mosaic fragments from the south wall of the ante-baptistery
14th century



Image of the mosaic fragments portraying the prophet Abraham

The prophet Abraham
Mosaic fragments from the vault of the ante-baptistery, south section
14th century




Image of the mosaic fragments portraying St. John the Baptist that receives the vestments from the angel

St. John the Baptist receives the vestments from the angel
Mosaic fragment from the west wall of the ante-baptistery
14th century



Image of the mosaic fragments portraying a soldier killing the children

Soldier killing the children
Mosaic fragments from The Slaughter of the Innocents
east wall of the ante-baptistery
14th century




Image of the mosaic fragments portraying the head of a soldier brandishing a spear

Soldier brandishing a spear (head)
Mosaic fragments from The Slaughter of the Innocents
east wall of the ante-baptistery
14th century



Image of the mosaic fragments portraying a soldier sheathing his spear

Soldier sheathing his spear
Mosaic fragments from The Slaughter of the Innocents
east wall of the ante-baptistery
14th century




Image of the mosaic fragments portraying the Virgin and Child

Virgin and Child
Mosaic fragments from The Slaughter of the Innocents
east wall of the ante-baptistery
14th century

Image of the mosaic fragments portraying the Magi's heads

The Magi (heads)
Mosaic fragment from The Magi meeting Herod
west wall of the ante-baptistery
14th century




Image of the mosaic fragments portraying the body of baptised person

Body of baptised person, from St. Andrew baptises in Akhaia
Mosaic fragments from Christ invites the Apostles to baptise the People
central dome of the baptistery, south-west section
14th century

Image of the mosaic fragments portraying St. Bartholomew baptises in India

St. Bartholomew baptises in India
Mosaic fragments from Christ invites the Apostles to baptise the People
central dome of the baptistery, south-west section
14th century




Image of the mosaic fragments portraying St. Christopher

St. Christopher
Mosaic fragment from the south façade, third niche from the right
16th century (?))

Image of the mosaic fragments portraying heads of Saints

Heads of saints
Mosaic fragment from the vault of the Apocalypse
Mosaicist: Francesco Zuccato, 16th century