- Islamic art originated in the 7th century AD following the teachings of the prophet Muhammad. It spread rapidly from the Fertile Crescent across North Africa and into Spain. - Key characteristics include an avoidance of figural representation in accordance with Islamic doctrine, and emphasis on sacred geometry and calligraphy in decorative arts. Major artistic centers included Baghdad, Cairo, and Alhambra in Spain. - Important architectural styles featured hypostyle halls, domes, and the use of arabesque patterns and muqarnas vaulting. Major monuments include the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem and the mosques of Cordoba and Istanbul. Calligraphy and book illumination also flourished in Persian miniature

1. Islamic Art
& West/Central
Asian Art
Islamic Art includes
Middle East, Africa,
and Spain

2. Origins:
Cultural
context
• Mohammed born in Mecca
• Considered a messenger of
God
• Not considered a divine
incarnation, like Jesus
• Arab states polytheistic
until he begins preaching
• Opposition to his teachings
causes him to flee to
Medina in 622
• Date of Islam begins with
Mohammed's flight to
Medina in 622 A.D.
Muhammad died in 632
A.D. He died as a result of
being poisoned following his
attack upon and conquest of the
Jewish settlement of Khaibar.

3. • Islam develops in Fertile Crescent; It spreads quickly
• By 640, into Syria, Palestine, Iraq, and Egypt
• By 710, North Africa conquered
• 732, into Spain; (1492; Ferdinand & Isabella defeat Muslims)
• Islam has quick appeal- One God, Allah
• Everyone has equal access to religious literacy and Allah
• NO intermediary or hierarchy such as priests and popes
• Draws from Judaic and Christian Old Testament

5. • Main holy book: The
Koran; rules of faith as
communicated through
Muhammad
• Islamic world produced
great discoveries,
innovations in Math,
geometry, astronomy,
literature, origins of
photography; highly
developed intellectual
activity and literacy
• Becomes a theocratic
religion: Political and
religious united
Calligraphy in Kufic script

6. mosques and palaces
• Islam is an iconclastic religion: almost no representations of figures or animals
Instead, developed and used sacred geometry:
• Textile-like patterns using floral and geometric arabesque forms and shapes to
create a complex design
• Also a representation of the diversity, complexity and unity in the cosmic/Divine
order
• Repetition calms one; allows for focus on Divine and Divine order

7. 183 The Kaaba. Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
Also, it is a Pre-Islamic monument

8. Inside Mecca, view of Kaaba :51
Pilgrims Circumambulating The Ka'ba at Dawn- Hajj 2012 4:52183

9. Annual changing of kiswa
183
Originally housed idols (pre-
Muhammad)
The Hajj and circumambulation (TAWAF)
Annual changing of kiswa

11. • -Houses rock on which
Mohammed ascended to
heaven
• -Not actually mosque; a
monumental sanctuary
• -Octagon capped with a dome
called a domed cupola
• Dome from Byzantine
• -Square/circle motif comes to
dominate Islamic architecture
• -Outer shell replaced with
glazed ceramic tiles
• -Ceramic tiles, a popular
medium by 9th century
Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem (late 7th Cent)
(60' wide 74' tall)
Jews believed it’s the site where Abraham sacrificed Isaac
Christians believe it’s the site where Constantine’s mother
built a church, Church of the Holy Wisdom

12. Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem
• 20x20 meter dome. Originally covered with tiles, then lead
• 1965, aluminum bronze alloy
• 1993, gold, financed by King Hussein of Jordan who sold one of his houses in London
for 8.2 million to fund the 80 kilograms of additional gold required

13. -Cupola: domed roof on a circular drum or base

14. 185
Interior is covered in mosaics and
Islamic Calligraphy

15. 185

16. 185 51

17. 51185
185. Dome of the Rock. Jerusalem, Palestine. Islamic, Umayyad. 691–692 C.E., with multiple
renovations. Stone masonry and wooden roof decorated with glazed ceramic tile, mosaics, and
gilt aluminum and bronze dome.
51. San Vitale. Ravenna, Italy. Early Byzantine Europe. c. 526–547 C.E. Brick, marble, and stone
veneer; mosaic.

18. 185 51

19. 49Santa Sabina. Rome, Italy. Late Antique Europe.
c. 422–432 C.E. Brick and stone, wooden roof.
COMPARISON

20. Interior, Mosque of Cordoba, Spain (8th-10th Cent)
Mosque:
Community
prayer place
A place for
bowing down
Open court or
prayer hall
Umayyad
Dynasty
Cordoba fell to
Christians in
1236

21. 56

22. Exterior: Mosque of Cordoba, Spain

23. 56

24. Mosque of Córdoba, Spain | A Walk to the Mezquita's Mihrab 1:45 56

25. 56

27. Left: prayer hall
Right: Maqsura- for the caliph (ruler of Islamic community) and connected to the palace

28. Hypostyle hall: Temple of Amen Re in Egypt

29. Frieze from a palace-Mshatta, Jordan 740, limestone
16 ft high, triangle patterns with rosettes. Vegetal/animal designs on
secular side, not on the Mosque side.

31. Islamic Design: The Arabesque

32. Calligraphy and Tessellation
The highest art form: Calligraphy
Tessellation: Repeated patterns without gaps over an infinite
geometric plane- generally polygonal shapes

33. LETTING IN LIGHT
ISLAMIC DESIGN: JALI

34. Mihrab- (niche indicates direction to Mecca)
From the GREAT MOSQUE Isfahan, Iran #186

35. JERUSAMEM TUNISIA
MIRHAB- semicircular niche in the wall of a mosque that indicates the qibla;, the direction of
the Kaaba in Mecca and hence the direction that Muslims should face when praying.

36. SYRIA AND HAGIA SOPHIA

37. IRAN

38. DELHI

39. MEZQUITA,
CORDOBA
* UNUSUAL because it
points south instead
of southeast towards
Mecca

40. Mosque of Selim II, By the architect Sinan the Great 1569-75 TURKEY
For the Ottoman Turks, proof they had surpassed Byzantine Christian architecture.
Dome is higher than
the Hagia Sophia
1:2 ratio, height-width

41. The Alhambra, Granada, Spain (1354-91)
The Court of the Lions

42. Fortress and palace built by Moorish Kings (11th-15th century)
• -Alhambra: from Arabic word "red" (brick)
• -Last Muslim stronghold in Western Europe
• -Classical arches and influence; yet organic feel (stalactites)
• -All surface decoration above columns are carved into stucco (wet plaster)
• -Airy, floating, fantasy-like appearance;
• -Roman arcade around patio; block capitals

43. Dome, Alhambra

44. A Virtual Walking Tour: The Alhambra 65

45. #190 The Shahnama By Firdawsi
HISTORY OF IRAN UNTIL MUSLIM
CONQUEST
258 illustrations
This one by Sultan Muhammad
Guyamars, legendary first king of Iran
Ruled from mountaintop
Son on his left , grandson on right
Animals are instantly tamed
NOTICE: POSITIONING OF KING?

46. Persian Manuscripts:
The Shahnama By Firdawsi longest
epic poem by a single poet.
Took 20 years to complete
Also- SHANAMEH
This work: 1522-1525
ink, watercolor, gold
Influenced by Chinese painting after
Mongols invade Baghdad in 1258
-Subjects: rocks, clouds, dragons,
chrysanthemum,
Islamic text/poetry, from circa 1000 ce
-made with squirrel hairs
COMMISSIONED BY Shah Thamasp
HE ALSO COMMISSIONED ARDABIL
CARPETS

47. King, with son and
grandson,
addresses his court

48. OTHER PAGES

49. Death of Zahak- evil figure in Iranian mythology

51. Iranian King Bahram Gur Fights the
Karg
(horned wolf)
The Great Il-Khanid Shahnama
1330-1340
Now at Harvard
He wears European fabric
#189

53. Copy: https://prezi.com/zhaexdsutqfu/bahram-gur-fights-the-karg/
Or click for link: Prezi on Bahram Gur

54. # 191 Ardabil Carpet
Silk and wool
LACMA restoring the ardabil carpet

59. #188 Baptistere de St. Louis
1320
Muhammad Ibn al-Zain
Practices Horror Vacui-
Or cenophobia, fear of empty space
Canteens and Bowls:
Brass, gold, silver.
Christians patronized Islamic Art

60. #188 Baptistere de St. Louis MUHAMMAD IBN AL ZAYN 1320
Subject? Use/function? composition? VIDEO

61. Pyxis Al Mughira
Given to son of a Caliph
when he was 18
Umayyad period
El Andalus
# 57

64. The Pyxis of al-Mughira is
decorated with four eight-
lobed medallions which are
surrounded by figures and
animals that include falconers,
wrestlers, griffons, peacocks,
birds, goats and animals to be
hunted. Each medallion has
princely iconography.
This medallion shows two
men collecting eggs from the
nests of Falcons, a symbol of
Umayyad legitimacy.