Georgi Wekler (1800-1861)

The present micromosaic is a splendid rendition of a painting by the Dutch painter Adam Pynacker (1622-1673) titled 'Bridge in an Italian landscape' now conserved at the Dulwich Picture Library (acc. no. DPG183). Just like the painter, the mosaicist Georgi Wekler here exploits the bucolic scene of a Roman bridge as a means to display his skills in the manipulation of light, from the intense colouring of the sky to the different ways the light affects individual elements in the landscape (for example, the cows' bodies, the tree bark and the bushes on the front right handside).

The view of a bridge and of a pastoral landscape are often depicting in the form of micromosaics, excelling at picking up small details and rivalling painters. Views of the Lucano bridge and of the Salario Bridge are often depicting as well with a cattle and shepherds, see for example one sold at Christie's, London, 1 June 2020, lot 51.

Georgi Wekler (1800-1861)

Wekler is one of the most celebrated Russian master of micromosaics. Born in 1800 in Riga, he moved to St Petersburg in 1801 and later to Moscow in 1814 where he apprenticed with a glass painter, learning how to decorate the glass eggs traditionally given as Easter gifts. It was in this glass shop that he was discovered by the Italian mosaicist Moglia (probably Domenico, 1780-1862) who trained him diligently for two years in the art of micromosaics.

He declined an invitation to accompany Moglia back to Rome in 1819, staying in Moscow and by 1821, he returned to St. Petersburg where his mosaic, Lost son of Santa Rosa was purchased by the Empress, Elizabeth Feodorovna. Tsar Alexander I subsequently commissioned two more works from him, landscapes of the Imperial estates of Kamenoi Ostrow and Jelagen. His works was so highly regarded that in 1822 he was appointed Master of Mosaics at the Royal Academy of Art in St. Petersburg and from then on received many more commissions from the Tsar's household. In 1837, he was also given the title of Court Mosaic Master at 3000 roubles per year. From 1838, Wekler taught classes at the Academy, and in 1842 became Director of Mosaics at St. Isaac's Cathedral, working on a project to complete certain church mosaics.

Other examples of his work are recorded in public and private collections alike. For example, three panels, one depicting two Italian greyhounds, one depicting the interior of a Capuchin church and one with a cockerel are conserved at the Victoria & Albert Museum (respectively inv. no. LOAN:GILBERT.218:1, 2-2008; LOAN:GILBERT.877:1, 2-2008 and LOAN:GILBERT.221:1 to 3-2008). A panel with a pastoral subject set in a paperweight base was sold at Sotheby's, London, 22 May 2019, lot 483 (sold £25,000). Some smaller mosaics by Wekler include busts of Plauto and Aristotele, Russian Peasants, animals, figures, a Troika, Jelagen Palace, Gatchina Palace, St. Peter's Basilica, Isaac's Place, the Marmor Church, the Cathedral of St. Basil and the Royal Pavillon at Brighton (see Gabriel, Jeanette Hanisee, et al. Micromosaics, 2000).