Islamic Art and Culture

Islamic Art and Culture

• From the 7th to the 17th Centuries

• From Spain in the West to India in the East

• An appreciation of Classical Islamic culture

Geography of the Islamic World Saudi Arabia home of Islam. Mecca – holy city of

Islam located on thecoastal road running

along the western edgeof the country.

A harsh climate –desert home to nomadic peoples.

Mecca – Heart of Islam• Heart of Islam

• The Kaaba –Mecca

Saudi Arabia

Arabic calligraphy (1)• Arabic, language

of the Koran –

• becomes an art form in itself –

• decorative and highly stylized

Arabic Calligraphy (2) The art of Arabic

Calligraphy

• Two examplesof the monumental

‘Kufic’ style.

10th – 11th century

Arabic Calligraphy (3)• From the Koran

to proverbs on plates –

• Arabic script served all purposes uniting the diverse peoples of Islam

Arabic Calligraphy (4)• Calligraphy used on ceramic work

An Example of the cursive style.

Arabic script becomes a decorative element in itself on buildings

Arabic Calligraphy (5)• Cursive and Kufic

script on the wall of an Islamic monastery.

• Script as decorative element.

• Persia 14th century

The Islamic Dome (1)The dome is the Key architecturalelement of the Mosque.

Dome of the RockMosque, Jerusalem Built: 610

The Islamic Dome (2)• The dome plus

polychrome ceramic tiling and the minaret become the typical mosque image.

• Masjid-I Shaykh• Isfahan – Persia

16th Century

The Islamic Dome (3)

• The dome, ceramic tile, Arabic script, geometric pattern, flower motifs, blue, yellow, turquoise colours – all the key elements of Islamic architecture.

• Masjid-I Shaykh• Isfahan – Persia 16th Century

The Islamic Dome (4)• The Blue Mosque

in Instanbul by Sinan 16th century

• Multiple domes and minarets produce the classic mosque type.

Ceramic Tile Patterns (1)• Ceramic tile:Shining in the sun -reflective and cooling. Gives humanity to thelarge scale forms of The mosque

Dome of the Rock

Mosque –Jerusalem

Ceramic Tile Patterns (2)Cooling and

humanizing, coloured tiles gave the Mosque

a strong visualpresence in the city.

(Left) Masjid-I ShahIsfahan – Persia 1610

(Right) – Mosque entrance Isfahan

Ceramic Tile Patterns (3)• The Endlessabstract patterns ofthe tiles reflect theIslamic world view

of the infinite. • (Left) Exterior

tiling Isfahan.• (Right) Mirhab

tile decoration, Isfahan

Ceramic Tile Patterns (4) Floral and geometric pattern cover the walls and Vaults of this Prayer Hall.

Masjid-I Shah, Isfahan, Persia.

The Decorative NicheExternal niches andthe Mirhab itself weretreated decoratively.Colour, pattern and Arabic Script identified significant places.

(L) Maydan Mosque, Kashan, Persia - 1226

The Courtyard Garden (1)An almost complete classical Islamic garden in MoorishSpain. The garden as the idealenvironment. Cool and green.

The Garden of the Myrtles, Alhambra, Spain. 14th century.

The Courtyard Garden (2) Lion Courtyard• The garden as expressive

art form – antithesis to the heat and dust of the outside environment. Water was also clearly an important and expressive element.

• Alhambra, Moorish, Spain, 14th century

The Courtyard Garden (3)

Here the Mughal Emperor Babur supervises the layoutof a garden with cruciformwater feature.

Babur was the first MughalEmperor in Islamic India:c. 1526


• From Islamic Spain to Persia to Mughal India the garden image and environment provided the ideal classical setting for literary works and romances.

• (L) Mughal Garden scene


• Garden and cloisters similar to Gothic period Christian

monasteries.

• Alhambra - Muslim Spain

The Courtyard Complex (1) Mosque complex Isfahan, Persia definesthe enclosed urban square - a key feature of Islamic urban planning.

• Courtyard of the Masjid-I Jum’a, Persia

The Courtyard Complex (2)• The courtyard acts as the defining element in Islamic urban planning

The Courtyard Complex (3)• A major urban complex in Isfahan, Persia though typical of Islamic planning in general.

Islamic urban planning laws were carefully prescribed to ensure privacy

The Courtyard

Complex (4)• The Blue Mosque,

Istanbul and its courtyard, 1609

Ottoman Empire

Architect: Sinan

The Courtyard

Complex (5)• The Golden Mosque

BagdadAnd its courtyards

Central domes cover the tombs of the two

Imams

The Courtyard Complex (6)

Courtyard Complex at

Isfahan, Persia

Islamic Interior Spaces (1)• Mughul India• Palace interior • 17th century

• There seems to be a Hindu influence in the design of the columns.

Islamic Interior Spaces (2) Lounge Bedroom area cool interior spaces

Muslim Spain (1)• The Alhambra and

the Great Mosque at Cordoba provide excellent examples of the design and decorative arts of this classic Islamic civilization.

Muslim Spain (2)• Decorative arches at

Alhambra, Moorish Spain

• The Kingdom of Granada 1266 – 1492 was the high point of Moorish Spain.

• The Alhambra was built during the 14th century

Muslim Spain (3)

L)Arches at the prayer hall and

R) The Mirhab

Tombs near Samarkand• Monumental tombs

on the Road to Samarkand built for rulers or holy men.

• Including that of Tamburlane the conqueror

• C. 13th century

Cultural Mix within Islam

• Islam’s reach was truly international from the Spain in the West to Indonesia in the East.

• This image shows a unique blend of cultures within Islam.

• What is it?

Islamic Science & Technology (1)

• Astronomy was an important science not only for intellectual curiosity but for navigational purposes

L) Ottoman Observatory 16th century

R) Astrolabe: c. 9th century

Islamic Science & Technology (2)Ibn Ishak’s

‘Book of the TenTreatises on the Eye’

Written in the 9th century

A standard work for 200 years


• Medical Treatises

L) Medical instruments Muslim Spain, 10th century

R) Persian medical dictionary 17th century


• Mathematics and Medicine

• L) Tusi’s analysis of Euclid’s parallel lines, 10th century

• R) Ibn al-Haytham’s Optics, Egypt, 11th

century

Islamic Science & Technology (5)• Musical treatise

• Kanz al-Tuaf treatise on musical theory

• Persian, 14th century

Islamic Arms & Armour (1)

Helmet and Body armour

c.15th – 16th centuries

Muslim armour waslighter and moreflexible than European

Islamic Arms & Armour (2) Decorative Halbert Decorative Knives

Sulyeman the Magnificent• The monograph

(signature)of the Ottoman Emperor: Sulyman the Magnificant

c. 1526

Domestic Objects (1)

• Domestic Objects Water vessels

• L) Persian 12th

century R) Persian 12th

century

Domestic Objects (2) Inlaid Metal Jewel box Inlaid metal Water vessel

Domestic Objects (3)Decorative brass Containers

c. Persia: 14th century

(Or Syria: 14th Century)

Domestic Objects (4) Inlaid brasswork Sandals vessels possibly Ottoman

Carpets (1)

Carpets were fordomestic andMosque usage.

L) Tabriz, Caucases

R) Kasvin, Persia 16th century

Carpets (2)Carpet designs

L) ‘Garden’ carpet Persia, 1700

R) Mughal Carpet India, 16th century

Mughal India - The Taj Mahal

The Taj Mahal

Mughal India1635

By Shah Jahan

People of the Islamic World (1)Classical IslamicCivilization includedmany different typesof people and societiesacross the globe – different yet united.L) Mughal Couple, India 16th centuryR) Persian style Indian

Painting

People of the Islamic World (2)The spiritual and

intellectual sides of theIslamic world were never

really separate.

L) The Mosque: Paintedby al-Hariri - 13th century

R) The Library: PaintedBy al-Hariri 13th century

People of the Islamic World (3)Ottoman EmperorSelim III receives anAmbassador at theTopkapi palace,Istanbul, Turkey,1800.

(The painting style is

European influenced)

People of the Islamic World (4)

L) On the road to Mecca with drums and trumpets. (Painted by al-Hariri, Bagdad, 1237).

R) The Persian King, Ali Shah receives European visitors, 19th century.

People of the Islamic World (5)L) Persian style painting of a university, 17th century.

R) Mughal garden scene or romance, 16th century.

The EndThank you for your

attention! I hope you found the

lecture interesting

and have learned something in the process

See you again!

Islamic Art and Culture

Design

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