MOSAICO: Ancient Italy hiding behind Humayun's Tomb?

As I stepped into the museum's newest exhibit, ‘MOSAICO. Italian Code of a Timeless Art’, the cool air hit my face like a welcome embrace, making the ancient stones feel more mysterious. It felt as though I have walked through a portal from 16th-century India into the golden, mosaic-strewn age of the Roman Empire. And what a journey it turned out to be!

By Aayushi Rana

The true painting for the ages is mosaic.

Domenico Ghirlandaio, Michelangelo's early teacher.

Delhi in summer can feel unrelenting, but tucked behind the iconic domes of Humayun's Tomb, opposite the sacred dargah of Nizammuddin, where his great poet-disciple Amir Khusro’s qawwalis are still played every Thursday evening, and Mirza Ghalib’s tomb nearby, is an oasis, not just of shade, but hiding forgotten and untold stories from yesterday. Amidst this medieval aura, the newly opened Humayun's Tomb Museum is a cherry atop the Mughal marvel's grandeur, now, offering visitors a thoughtfully curated escape into something unexpected: ancient Italy.

Yes, you read that right.

As I stepped into the museum's newest exhibit, ‘MOSAICO. Italian Code of a Timeless Art’, the cool air hit my face like a welcome embrace, somehow making the ancient stones feel more mysterious. It felt as though I have walked through a portal from 16th-century India into the golden, mosaic-strewn age of the Roman Empire. And what a journey it turned out to be!

A Tale of Two Empires

For over two millennia, mosaics have adorned the villas, temples, and tombs of Rome, Ravenna, and Palermo, tiny tesserae (pieces of stone or glass) painstakingly arranged to freeze entire worlds into permanence. Here's the thing about this exhibition: it doesn't just show you mosaics; it breathes life into them.

Brought to India as part of a cultural collaboration in Delhi, coinciding with the Italy-India Scientific and Technological Business Forum, this travelling showcase is a project of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in partnership with Magister Art, and curated with meticulous precision and deep insight by the Italian Cultural Institute and the Embassy of Italy.

But why showcase these in Delhi, and specifically, at a Mughal site?

Because history always speaks best to history. The Humayun's Tomb, an architectural muse for the Taj Mahal, becomes the perfect setting to host another grand narrative — one that traverses the Roman Empire, Byzantine refinement, and Mediterranean spirituality. Standing there, I couldn't help but marvel at how two great civilisations were having a conversation across centuries.

At the heart of the exhibition lies a set of five original Roman mosaics from the Capitoline Museums of Rome. Displayed alongside immersive multimedia visuals, these rare pieces bring visitors face-to-face with Roman stories immortalized in stone and glass. I found myself crouching down to examine each piece, imagining the brilliant Roman artisan's nimble fingers, placing each tessera with infinite patience 2,000 years ago.

Some highlights that stopped me in my tracks

Polychrome Emblema with a Fishing Scene: Dating back to the late first or early second century AD, this fragment shows two muscular men drawing fishing nets — their bodies shaded in fine gradations of colour, using tesserae smaller than my fingernail. Yet, together, they create expressions so lifelike that I expected the Roman fishermen to look up and nod. It's a window into labour, leisure, and the incredible craftsmanship of mosaic art.

Floor Mosaic with the Bust of an Athlete: From the bath complexes of Emperor Septimius Severus (c. 193–211 AD), this mosaic represents the Roman ideal of physical beauty and athleticism. You can almost hear the echoes of the gladiators, and the blood-thirsty crowd in the stadium, and the rustle of togas as you stand before this ancient champion.

Octagonal Mosaic with Peacocks: Discovered in a Roman tomb, this second-century piece features two peacocks, one pecking at a smaller bird, among shrubs and a poppy. The peacock, sacred to Dionysus, symbolises resurrection, while the poppy hints at life’s intoxication, and eternal sleep. A poignant blend of life and death, captured in limestone and glass. I stood here longer than anywhere else, lost in the symbolism and the delicate way light played across the ancient surface.

An Exhibition that Breathes

What struck me immediately upon entering was how this exhibition didn't feel like a gallery, it felt like a living, breathing portal. Through immersive digital walls, holographic projections, and kaleidoscopic underwater visuals, Italy's mosaic story unfolded like a cinematic time machine.

I admit, I spent way too long trying to photograph the holographic projections (spoiler: it doesn't work), but, honestly, some experiences are meant to be lived, not captured.

The exhibition is divided into seven thematic sections, each representing a different Italian city or historical period. Projected videos draw you into epic battles, religious transitions, and everyday Roman life, all encoded in the tessellated language of art.

One entire area has been dedicated to underwater mosaics, presented through a stunning kaleidoscope-inspired installation that brings forgotten submerged cities like Baiae back to life. Walking through this section felt like diving into history itself — the blue light washing over me as ancient Roman villas emerged from the digital depths.

The result? You don't just see mosaics, you feel them, absorb them deep inside your aesthetic subconscious, you walk through them, and in moments, simply get lost within them.

The Magic Behind the Masterpieces

Though not part of the exhibit itself, understanding the technique behind these masterpieces, enhances their appreciation. As I learned more about these methods, each mosaic began to tell a deeper story:

Opus Tessellatum: The most widely used method: square tesserae (usually of stone or glass) are arranged in clean, geometric patterns. Ideal for floors and basic imagery. Think of it as the foundation of mosaic language.

Opus Vermiculatum: Used for more detailed figures and expressive scenes. The tesserae are smaller and laid in curves that ‘flow’ around shapes, like the shimmering muscles of those Roman fishermen. Each piece follows the contours like a second skin.

Opus Sectile: Larger pieces, almost puzzle-like, are often used to craft bold designs with depth and texture, perfect for architectural applications. These create dramatic statements that command attention.

These techniques show us that mosaic was not just decorative art; it was great architectural storytelling, each method chosen deliberately to serve the narrative.

A Moment between Worlds

Stepping into this exhibit felt like walking a line between continents and centuries. To stand in a marvelous Mughal structure while gazing at Roman artistry was a surreal reminder of how deeply interconnected the world of arts and aesthetics, truly is. The afternoon summer sun streamed through Mughal arches, while I contemplated Roman peacocks; these precious moments created those rare, perfect, impossible memories that travel sometimes gifts us.

Don't Miss This Journey

So, whether you are a lover of arts, literature and culture, history, anthropology and social sciences, a corporate pro or scientist, a student or teacher in a school or college, or simply looking to escape the heat with meaning, this exhibit is a must-visit. It's not every day that a corner of Delhi, and literally in its heart, opens a window to ancient Italy.

With the exhibition running only until August 30, 2025, time is precious.

Walking back out into Delhi's blazing afternoon, I carried a piece of ancient Rome within me — fragments of stories told in stone and glass, whispers of artisans who knew their work would outlast empires.

And isn't that exactly what great art should do?

Pro tip: Visit on a weekday morning when the crowds are thinner, and you can spend quality time with each piece. Trust me, you would want to linger.

Exhibition Details

When: April 12 - August 30, 2025.
 Timings: Tuesday-Sunday, 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM.


Where: Humayun's Tomb Museum, Delhi. Near Sunder Nursery. Nizamuddin.

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The writer is a fact-checker, an expert on social media and cyber safety, and a researcher based in Delhi.