Maria Rosa Moretti

On the Semiprecious-Stone Mosaic in Niccolò Paganini’s Possession.

Abstract

This late-18^th-century mosaic has an intricate history, intersecting with that of other so-called commessi in pietre dure, made in Florence and depicting the Leghorn port. The abundant info gathered had to be combed to identify items pertaining to this mosaic. This was in Paganini's possession only from 1834 on, as per documents. Subsequently inherited by his son, Achille (1840), and then by his grandchildren (1895), it was part of his “Posthumous Collection” until 1930, when Paganini's grandson, Giovanni, sold it to an unknown buyer. No further news has emerged for almost a century. Only in November 2024 did we learn from Paris Sotheby’s catalogue that the mosaic had been sitting in Gianni Giordano’s collection for years and that another private collector bought it at auction.