Books:

Mosaics of the Greek and Roman World by Katherine M D Dunbabin (Cambridge University Press, 2001)

The Penguin Historical Atlas of Ancient Rome by Chris Scarre (Penguin Books, 1995)

The Later Roman Empire by A Cameron (Fontana, 1993)

The Roman Empire by C Wells (Fontana, 1992)

A History of Rome by M Cary and H H Scullard (Macmillan, 1979)


Internet:

Roman Mosaics
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Ancient_Roman_mosaics

Mosaic Gallery
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/mosaics_gallery.shtml

Archaeology
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/archaeology/

The Romans
http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ancient/romans/

British Museum
http://www.britishmuseum.org/

The Mosaics of Antiochia
http://romeartlover.tripod.com/Antioc2.html

Roman Art:
A mosaic is created by assembling small pieces of tile, stone, or glass into a mortar background forming a pattern or picture. Mosaicists used small pieces of coloured stone and ceramics as covers for walls and floors. Ceramic mosaic pieces are called "tesserae". The Romans followed the Greek tradition in creating this form of art probably beginning in the 3rd or 4th century. Their mosaics consisted of cut stones and were usually used for floors. Subjects included depictions of their gods, legendary heroes of Greek and Roman literature, banquet scenes, still-life’s, hunting scenes, underwater creatures, depictions of daily life, and images of nature. Scenes from the life of Dionysus, the god of wine, also known by the Romans as Bacchus, were a common mythological theme.

Roman wall painting is described as having four distinct styles, which have been identified from the wall paintings found at Pompeii, Boscoreale, Herculaneum, and other cities buried under the volcanic ash of Mt Vesuvius.

The first style of Roman wall painting is thought to imitate Greek painting that created flat areas of colour and faux finishes such as fake marble or oak.

In the second style of Roman wall painting, which is called the "Architectural Style", space extends beyond the room with various perspective devices. Roman artists came close to developing a true linear perspective. Artists used wet and dry plaster, fresco, infused with powdered marble and alabaster to create lustre. The intent of the artist was a near photorealism.

In the third style of Roman wall painting, the "Ornate Style", pictorial illusion is confined to framed images, where even the framing is painted on. The overall appearance is flat rather than a three dimensional illusion of space.