Patchy picture of a law giver (6)

I believe the answer is:

mosaic

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'patchy picture' is the definition.
'mosaic' can be an answer for 'picture' (mosaic is a kind of picture). I'm not sure about the 'patchy' bit.

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for mosaic that I've seen before include "Design of many small pieces" , "Design of little pieces" , "Design of small coloured squares" , "Pattern made with tiny pieces of stone or glass" , "expressed in stones" .)

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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