The name cosmatesque comes from the Cosmati family of stone masters that for a few generations
(1190 to 1300) was involved in architecture, carving and decorative art in Rome. Their art is
referred to as opus sectile where materials were cut in pieces and inlayed into pavements and walls.
Works of the Cosmati family can be found mainly in Italy. There are very few examples outside of
Italy with the most famous one in the Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, known also as
Westminster Abbey, which is a large Gothic church, in the City of Westminster (now part of
London), located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster.