Patchy picture of a lawgiver (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 can't explain the remainder of the clue.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for mosaic that I've seen before include "Tessellated picture" , "from one of the prophets" , "Like the Commandments" , "Decorative work of small hard pieces" , "Tessellated design" .)

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

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