Intarsia

Intarsia is a refined technique of decorative art in which images are created from an assortment of colored wood species. Craftsmen cut and fitted the pieces like mosaic stones, achieving the effect of a painted canvas. This technique originated in 15th-century Italy, amid a growing interest in geometry and perspective.

In its heyday, intarsia adorned altars, caskets, and even library walls. Each piece of wood was selected for its tone, texture, and grain direction, giving the image depth and a play of light. A particular challenge was that wood is 'alive': over time it dries out and can disrupt the perfect fit.

In Florentine workshops, this technique required not only artistic taste but also engineering precision — not for nothing is intarsia called 'painting with wood'.