Islamic Art Online

Islamic Art Online

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  Islamic Art
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  Historical Background:The ProphetMohammed was born in Arabia in 570 CE, at the height of the Byzantine Empire. A trader, married to a wealthy widow, he experiences a spiritual awakening in his early middle age, receiving the word of God (Quran) from the angel Gabriel. He begins preaching in Mecca, criticizing the wealthiest residents who benefit most from the pilgrimages made by pagan Arabs to visit the idols housed in the Kaaba, built by Abraham. He’s forced to flee from Mecca (flight known as the Hegira) and goes to Medina, where his preaching gathers followers. Becoming both a spiritual and temporal military leader, he gathers his forces and returns to conquer Mecca in the first Holy War, in the name of Allah. He preaches submission to God, equality of all before God, strict monotheism, obedience to God's requirements: prayers facing Mecca 5x/day, fasting during Ramadan, giving alms to the poor, pilgrimage to Mecca (if possible) once during lifetime, following dietary restrictions. Islam becomes the fastest-growing religion in world history.
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  5 Pillars ofIslamDeclaration of FaithPrayer (salat)Zacat or TitheThe Fast of Ramadan (9th month of the Islamic calendar)Pilgrimage
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  Dedication of FaithThereis no god but God (Allah) and Muhammed is his ProphetTo become a Muslim one need only make this simple declaration of faithIslam has absolute MonotheismMohammed transmits the direct word of GodUnlike Christ, Muhammed, while the perfect man is not divine – the preeminent role model
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  Prayer (Salat)5 timesa day (daybreak, noon, mid-afternoon, evening, sunset)Alone or together, indoors or outPreferable to pray with others, demonstrating brotherhoodFace Mecca when praying, toward the Kaaba (house of God believed to have been built by Abraham and Ismail)Once a week on Friday, gather for the Sabbath at a mosque or Islamic center
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  Zakat or TitheMeans“purification”Individual and communal responsibility to care for the poorNot veiwed as Charity; it is an obligationFunctions as a form of social security
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  The fast ofRamadanOnce a year in the 9th month of the Islamic calendarRepresents the first revelation of the Quran to MuhammedIF health permits – abstain from food, drink and sexual activity from dawn to sunsetA discipline to stimulate religious reflectionEnds with a special feast (resembles Christmas with gifts, food, etc.)
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  Haji or thePilgrimageAt least once in a lifetime (if able) to MeccaEvery year more than 2,000,000 make the journey to form a community of faithPilgrims wear simple clothing to symbolize purityThe Eid al-Adha occurs toward the end: The Feast of the Sacrifice
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  The Kaabaan ancientstone structure that was built and re-built by prophets as a house of monotheistic worship
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  located inside theGrand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia
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  15 meters highand 10-12 meters wide.
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  an ancient, simplestructure made of granite
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  serves as afocal and unifying point among the Muslim peopleAccording to the Qur'an, the Ka'aba was built by the prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael as a house of monotheistic worship
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  Islamic ArchitectureBuilt toaccommodate as many worshippers as possible in prostrate position: Communal PrayerNo elaborate ritual with a center of visual attention (like an altar)Emphasizes horizontality as opposed to verticality (Christian Churches). Roofed part held up by a combination of arches/columns called a hypostyle hall.Worshipers face Mecca. Wall opposite entrance faces Mecca (quibla).Quibla usually marked by a niche (often domed) called a mihrab.Ornamentation prohibits use of graven images (no 3-D forms of humans or animals)Decorations utilize patterns of: 1. Geometric figures 2. Intertwining plant forms 3. Calligraphy of Arabic quotations from Quran.Exterior has at least one minaret, up which the muezzin climbs to call for prayer.
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  The Dome ofthe Rock691
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  The Night Journeyof Muhammad on His Steed, Buraq; leaf from a copy of the Bustan of Sacdi, dated 1514. From Bukhara, Uzbekistan.
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  Built on thesite of the first Temple of Solomon
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  earliest still-extant Muslimstructure
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  built by CaliphAbd al-Malik in 691
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  represents the Muslims'acquisition of a near-complete Romano-Byzantine architectural program
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  atypical Islamic religiousstructure
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  makes use ofthe pointed arch, which was later used in Romanesque churchesIslamic ArtDome of the Rock, JerusalemHouses the rock from which it is said Mohammed ascended to heavenOctagonal planInspired by centrally planned churchesCommanding view of the dome raised on a drumProfusion of exterior and interior decorationCalligraphyArabesqueTessellationInspired by rounded Roman arches, but adding alternating striped stones
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  The Alhambra, 1338- 1390
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  Islamic ArchitectureThe Alhambra,GranadaOriginally a military fortificationLater reconstructed as a palaceSlender columns set inside walls and abut window framesFinely chiseled marble gives the effect of transparencyMarble cut in honeycomb pattern on ceilingStone inset in ceilings hangs like stalactites, and double sets of windows provide lightSmall bubbling fountains provide reliefCanals pass water among the buildingsCalligraphyArabesqueTessellationMajor emphasis on mathematics and symmetry
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  Escher's Sketch ofthe tessellations in Alhambra, Spain
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  Court of theLionsFountain surrounded by lions, demonstrating some secular use of animal forms.
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  Lion form derivesfrom lamassu.
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  Lions are crudelycarved, indicating infrequency with subject in art.
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  Poem carved infountain rim describing how fierce the lions would be if not out of respect for the king.Great Mosque, Córdoba, 786
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  Built by 'Abdal-Rahman I, who escaped from Syria to the Iberian Peninsula after his family was massacred by a rival political dynasty circa 750 by he Abassid revolt. Only surviving member of the Ummayyad dynasty. – 800 family members massacred at peace banquetConsecrated as a Christian Cathedral in 1236 by Ferdinand III, king of Castille
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  Islamic ArtGreat Mosque,Córdoba, begun in 786An infinite sea of columns on the interior (columns harvested from existing Roman and Visigothic buildings.Short columns (c. 9 feet) necessitated 2-tiered arches to raise ceiling and increase light.Columns interlace with each otherColumns have capitals, but no basesArches are rounded, with alternating stripes (red brick and white marble)Columns represent endless number of worshippersAll face the mihrabRich, varied visual effects & highly decorative
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  Hypostyle Hall inCordoba
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  The Taj Mahal1640- 43
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  Islamic ArchitectureThe TajMahal, Agra 1632-48Burial place of Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to her 14th childEnclosed by a large red sandstone wall to provide a focused viewVast symbolic image of Islamic paradiseSymmetricalHarmoniousMinarets act to balance the compositionTypical of Islamic architecture: one large central arch, framed by two smaller arches one above the otherSquare plan with chamfered cornersSmall kiosks around domeDome has an onion shape (ancestry in the Byzantine empire)Intricate floral and geometric inlaysCalligraphy across façade and on interior
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  Great Mosque atDamascus, 705-711The earliest Muslim building on a gigantic scale
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  Built inside thefortified outer enclosure of a Roman sanctuary
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  Had been aChristian church until caliph al-Walid I, demolished and used the material
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  The square cornertowers are the earliest known minarets – became common feature on many mosques
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  Early interior decorationconsisted of mosaics featuring landscapes and city scenes
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  Flat uniform patterningsimilar to textile design
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  Palace at Mshatta,743Square fortified palace
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  Note the sculptedfaçade which employs intricate plant forms and animals
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  Employs an arabesquepattern – forshadows the Islamic fascination with geometric interlacing which often dominates interior decoration
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  caliph Harun al-Rashidwrites with Charlemagne
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  Destroyed by Mongolhordes in 1258
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  Great Mosque atSamarra, 850Largest mosque in the world