Professor Romolo Sellini, Vatican Mosaic Artist: Image of Raphael’s Self Portrait

Professor Romolo Sellini, Vatican Mosaic Artist: Image of Raphael’s Self Portrait

The information on the back of the mosaic verifies Professor Sellini as the artist who created it.

The seal to the right is the official seal of the Vatican Mosaic Studio.

Professor Romolo Sellini of the Vatican Mosaic Studio was active in the first part of the 20th century. 

He is considered to be one of the best mosaic artists of the century and worked on the mosaic of the altar of the Sacred Heart in St. Peter’s Basilica from 1920 to 1925.

The Vatican Mosaic Studio (Studio del Mosaico Vaticano) is a hidden Vatican City workshop, established in 1727, that creates and restores the 10,000 square meters of mosaics inside St. Peter’s Basilica. Artisans use ancient tools like the martellina (a sharp hammer) and a palette of over 28,000 colored enamel shades to craft durable, luminous art. 

Because the studio is located a few doors down from the pope’s private residence, it is mostly restricted from general public access. However, you can book special, VIP guided experiences to see this exclusive workshop in person.

https://stpetersbasilica.info/Altars/SacredHeart/SacredHeart.htm

Professor Sellini’s name, listed below as one of the creators of the Sacred Heart altar shown above.

The Carlo Muccioli (1857-1931) painting of the appearance of the Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque was executed in mosaic from 1920 to 1925 by Ludovico Lucietto, Evandro Monticelli, Carlo Simonetti, Luigi Chiaserotti, Lorenzo Cassio, and Romolo Sellini. In 1955 Muccioli’s picture was sold to the Seminario Serafico dei Minori Cappuccini in Todi (Perugia). Muccioli was named Director of the Vatican Mosaic Studio from 1922-1931.