Rappresentazione dei mosaici cosmateschi. Forma, Geometria, Colore.

This contribution will exploit the potential of contemporary graphic systems in order to study the different methods used to represent Comatesque floor mosaics. Their complex, overall proportional ratios and geometric motifs prompt the following question: what kind of representation can be used most effectively to correctly record the acquired survey data, including data about their state of conservation? These floors were created not only by repeating predetermined symmetries and proportional ratios, but also by exploiting available materials and the size of the space to be covered; hence, not rigid patterns, but solutions that were always different. Throughout the ages Comatesque mosaics have been represented primarily as monochromatic, or by using traditional colour techniques such as watercolours and tempera since these techniques make it possible to record the veins of the marbles and chromatic irregularities, making them instantly recognisable. The contribution will assess and illustrate both the potential and critical aspects of black and white representation as well as the sometimes more comprehensive representations that use a greyscale. It will also examine all the peculiarities of chromatic representation given that colour provides additional information and always offers more “objective” documentation of the state of the floors.