An Italian word sometimes used in English art history referring to semi-precious stone inlay work, particularly from the Renaissance period.
From Italian commesso, past participle of commettere ('to join together'). The term entered English art historical vocabulary because much of the finest decorative work originated in Italy.
Florentine commesso work — those intricate stone inlays that look like painted pictures but are actually cut and fitted stone — represents Renaissance craftspeople achieving effects we'd now need computers to design.
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