The Carlos Museum houses some great sculptures and objects from a variety of cultures; however, there is no dedicated Baroque art display in the museum’s permanent collection. But one can see traces of Baroque art by viewing early Roman art and African missionary art, among other items in the collection. I found the Mosaic Panels with Trojan Amazonmachy to be a good representation of Baroque ideas in early Roman art. Since Baroque was developed in 16th and 17th Century Italy, we can see elements that are adapted from early Italian art in the new art form.
The mosaic is made with a careful arrangement of colored stones, which lends it a distorted look. However, when viewed from afar, the mosaic yields a legible narrative of Ancient Roman history. The mosaic was possibly a walkway in a Roman villa. The mosaic depicts a battle being fought between the Greeks and the Amazons during the Trojan War. The scenes of combat incapsulate extreme emotions of valiance and fear from the combatants, which is similar to later Baroque art by artists such as Caravaggio. The mosaic also shows multiple figures in action, fighting on horseback or on foot, while wielding weapons with might. This complex scene echoes scenes painted by Nicolas Poussin, such as The Adoration of the Golden Calf.
The mosaic is a well-preserved piece of ancient art that would be valued in the early modern period for its beautiful representation and material, connection to Hellenistic roots, and its use as a study for later paintings. Today, if the mosaic is to be displayed in a Baroque collection, it would be displayed as a possible reference point for Baroque painters which was used to create complex and dynamic scenes. It can be viewed in conjunction with other art pieces which were found in ancient Roman and Greek contexts and also draw similarities with later Baroque art.