D&G Paris

Client Dolce&Gabbana
Services From design development to on-site installation
Year 2021

Friul Mosaic created the mosaics for the Dolce & Gabbana atelier in the heart of Paris, transforming the space with two extraordinary mosaic works depicting the portraits of Napoleon and Josephine Bonaparte, inspired by the paintings of François Gérard. The elegance of the Ancien Régime comes to life in this renewed space, a project born from the collaboration with Eric Carlson of Carbondale Studio.

The inspiration

The inspiration for these remarkable mosaic works comes from the famous portraits of Napoleon I and Empress Josephine, painted by François Gérard in 1805 and between 1807 and 1808, respectively. Napoleon’s imposing portrait and Josephine, depicted in her coronation robes, are reimagined in mosaic with unparalleled precision and sartorial attention to detail.
Josephine’s regal and precious coronation gown, made of white brocade satin embroidered with silver and gold, was faithfully recreated in the mosaic. Each tessera was carefully hand-cut, adhering to Friul Mosaic’s tradition of meticulous craftsmanship. Every phase of the work, from design to installation, required over 2,000 hours of dedicated effort.

Location

Rue de Faubourg Saint-Honoré, Paris, France


Materials

Venetian Enamel


Designer

Architect Eric Carlson – Carbondale Studio

Materials

The micro-mosaic brings the physical beauty of the paintings to life, using a broad range of Venetian enamel colors to create a stunning effect, enhanced with gold to replicate the crowns and jewelry of the period. A distinctive feature of the mosaic is Napoleon’s imperial cloak, adorned with golden bees, symbols of diligence, power, immortality, and resurrection.
The result is a piece that not only celebrates beauty and history but also conveys the magnificence of the smallest and most precious details, breathing tangible life into the elegance of the Ancien Régime.