Islamic Art

Slide 1: Islamic Art Revision

Slide 2: Introduction • Islamic civilization is based upon a monotheist religion • The expansion of this culture led to the creation of Muslim civilization • In Spain they created Al-Andalus

Slide 3: Characteristics • Iconoclast art: it is forbidden to depict their God’s image • Stylised: it is ant naturalistic and full of geometry • Mutability: show that things are ephemeral, using poor materials and repetitions to create light effects • Decorative: – Vegetal (Ataurique) – Geometric (lace) – Arabesc (flowers and calligraphy)

Slide 4: Architectonic Typology • The main buildings of Islamic architecture are: – Religious: • Mosque • Madrasa • Mausoleum – Civil: • Palace • Fortress • Engineering works • Carevanserai

Slide 5: Architecture: Characteristics • It is a synthesis of: – Byzantium – Copte – Christian • Buildings are not high, horizontality is underlined • The main building is the mosque • Materials are poor in general: brick, tiles, wax • Shapes tend to be cubic • Hemispheric domes • High towers (minaret)

Slide 6: Architecture: Characteristics • Supports: – Column and pillar – Slim and stylised – Reused capitals – Cimacio over the capital • Covers: great variety: – Flat covers – Vaults and domes: • Groin vaults • Pierced • Crafted • Muqarna

Slide 7: Architecture: Characteristics • Arches: – Types: • Horse-shoe • Polylobulate • Pointed horse-shoe – Combination of colours • Very decorative • Walls covered with tiles

Slide 8: Mosque • It is the centre of social life • It consists of a squared area covered by a dome • It is organised around a courtyard • In one side there is a tower to call for the pray: minaret • The main wall is directed to Mecca • Its origin is the Mahomet’s house in Medina

Slide 10: Mosque • Structure: • Courtyard or Shan, uncovered • Qibla: wall directed to Mecca • Mirhab: niche open in the quibla and holiest place of the mosque • Maqsura: area in front of the Mirhab reserved for the caliph • Mimbar or pulpit • Haram or pray rooms • Minaret: tower to call for the pray

Slide 11: Sahn Qibla Mihrab Minbar Minaret Maqsura Haram

Slide 12: Mosque • Typology: – With hypostyle room – With central plan covered with a dome – With iwans or building on the sides (Iran)

Slide 13: Madrasa • Building which functions as a teaching institution primarily of Islamic sciences • They are linked to a mosque • Inside there were – Classrooms – Students’ rooms

Slide 14: Mausoleum • Tombs of important people. • There were big constructions

Slide 15: Palace • They were royal residences • They consisted of a lot of rooms • Gardens, courtyards and fountains were common.

Slide 16: Fortress • These buildings were prepared for defence • They were surrounded by walls and built in high places, easy to defend.

Slide 17: Caravanserai • Roadside building that provides shelter to travellers and their animals • They were located in the middle of caravan routes • They had a first floor with a courtyard and spaces for animals and products • The top floor was for travellers.

Slide 18: Bridges • It was common the use of ogee arches • Sometimes they are covered.

Slide 19: Other Buildings Observatory Bazaar Bath houses

Slide 20: Islamic Art in Spain • Three periods can be distinguished: – Califal – Almohade – Nazari

Slide 21: Islamic Art in Spain Cordoba’s mosque is the most important work of the Califal style. Its construction began in 8th century and it was enlarge until 833.

Slide 22: Islamic Art in Spain The present building is the product of the fusion of the building iniciated by Abderraman I on the space formerly occupied by a christian church, whose constructive materials were reused in the new building. After that it was enlarged by Abderraman II and Almansur.

Slide 23: Islamic Art in Spain Minaret Mihrab Sabil or Qibla fountain Sahu or courtyard Cordoba’s mosque structure

Slide 24: Islamic Art in Spain The outside is similar to a fortress, with walls ending in crenelations and reforced by butresses. Limestome pieces are combined to underline the aspect of fortress.

Slide 25: Islamic Art in Spain • The internal space gives a uniformity impression due to the identical naves. • It is a non-differenced space where horizontality is dominant.

Slide 26: Islamic Art in Spain • Columns have shaft without lines • Capitals are corinthian but very simplified • Over them appears the cimacio to make them higher • Arches combine two colours • There are horse-shoe arches in the first line and high semicircular arches on the second line.

Slide 27: Islamic Art in Spain Two coloured voissoirs Semicircular arches on the second line Horse-shoe arches over the columns, both of them sustained by the supports Two supports one over the other with a pilar elevated

Slide 28: Islamic Art in Spain • The most luxurious part is the mihrab • The interior is covered in wax • Every type of decoration is used.

Slide 29: Islamic Art in Spain • The mihrab is covered by a nerved dome • It is built on an octagonal basis • The nerves are not crossed in the centre, leaving an open space, it is a gallonate dome • It is a symbol of divine wisdom

Slide 30: Islamic Art in Spain • The maqsura is an space in front of the mihrab that was reserved for the caliph • It was covered by four nerved domes, the same as in the mihrab. • It was limited by polylobulate arches, aligned in two one over the other. • Over there they are horse- shoe arches with small decorative columns.

Slide 31: Islamic Art in Spain • Madinat al Zahra

Slide 32: Islamic Art in Spain • Aljaferia palace was built during the Taifa time (11th century) • It is defensive.

Slide 33: Islamic Art in Spain • During the Almohad invasion towers were frequent. • They have an obvious defensive character.

Slide 34: Islamic Art in Spain • The buildings have different sections • All of them are quite closed on the basis, to have more windows in higher positions • They can have crenelations.

Slide 35: Islamic Art in Spain • The last period of Islamic Art in Spain is the Nazari. • The main building is the Alhambra palace, in Grenade • It is a big complex built in the 14th century.

Slide 36: Islamic Art in Spain • Different parts were added along History • The original nucleus it the Comares courtyard • Other important parts are Arrayans and Lions’ courtyards.

Slide 37: Islamic Art in Spain • The alcazaba is the defensive part • In this area stone is dominant in the walls • The rest of the construction is made of brick.

Slide 38: Islamic Art in Spain • The centre of the building is the Comares palace, to which the main rooms open • This area is built around the Arrayans courtyard • The inside is delicately decorated.

Slide 39: Islamic Art in Spain • Nazari columns are made in white marble • They are crowned by different kind of capitals • They are characterised by being delicate and fragile.

Slide 40: Islamic Art in Spain • Materials are poor • Brick is covered with wax • Marble is reserved for columns and floors • Wood is used in some decorations and mainly in the ceilings • The effect is of richness and sumptuous

Slide 41: Islamic Art in Spain • Nature is essential • Everything is though to delight the senses: – The endless noise of water in the fountains – The gardens that can be seen from the windows • When water is calmed it acts as a mirror, duplicating architectures.

Slide 42: Islamic Art in Spain • The Lions’ Courtyard is surrounded by elegant columns • It is the space between the external light and the internal shade and freshness • It symbolised paradise with the zodiacal lions and the four rivers that fertilize the world

Slide 43: Islamic Art in Spain • Some stances are covered by muqarna domes (The Two Sisters’ room) • This vault symbolises the cosmos, moving around and full of divine light • It suggest the shape of a star.

Slide 44: Islamic Art in Spain • Decoration is sumptuous and delicate • It uses atauriqe, epigraphy, lace and sebka or a net of rhombus made of mixed lobulate arches combined. • Materials are characterised by – Colour – Light reflection

Slide 45: Islamic Art in Spain • Muqarnas appear in arches • They look to be elegant curtains • It imitates lace work. • Muqarnas also decorate roofs, mainly vaults.

Slide 46: Islamic Art in Spain • In ceilings flat cover dominates • Some rooms are covered by fully decorated domes • In the rest of the cases wood dominate.

Slide 47: Islamic Art in Spain • There are summer palaces, as El Partal • As important as the palace itself is the garden and the pound in front • The building is simple, with great arches flanked by alfiz.

Slide 48: Islamic Art in Spain • The Generalife repeats the scheme of other palaces in Alhambra • Water and shade were essential elements to maintain a fresh atmosphere