Islamic ArtChronology of Early IslamFive Pillars of Islam

Early Islamic ArtAbbasid ArtIslamic Luxury Arts

Umayyad Art in Iberia

Later Islamic ArtMamluk Art

Ottoman Turkish ArtSeljuk Art

Timurid Art

Safavid Art

Ayyubid Art

Mamluk Art

Mughal ArtSub-Saharan Islamic Art

Chronology of Early Islam

Muhammad Born in Mecca ca. 570

Muhammad’s First Revelation 610

Muhammad’s Flight to Medina (Hijra)622

Muhammad Dies in Medina 632

Five regions conquered by Muslim soldiers in the seventh century.Iran and the Arabian peninsula.North Africa.Lower Egypt.The Iberian peninsula and as far north as Poitiers in France.As far east as the Indus River.The Christian city of Constantinople fell to the Muslims in 1453?

Five Pillars of Islam

Faith There is no God but God; Muhammad is his messenger

· Prayer Salat–obligatory prayers said five times daily

· Charity Zakat–“purification” or “growth”

Fasting during month of Ramadan

Pilgrimage Hajj–trip to Mecca once in a lifetime

some go yearly during Ramadan

Early Islamic ArtAbbasids

A people who claimed descent from Abbas, an uncle of Muhammad, they overthrew the Umayyads in 750.

ArabesqueNatural forms so stylized they become purely decorative.

CaliphRuler (“successor” for successor of Muhammad) who unites religious and political leadership in one leader.

CalligraphyElegant writing as a decorative art.

EwerA pitcher; in the Islamic world, could be crafted in the form of a stylized animal such as a bird.

FatimidsThe Islamic dynasty that ruled in Egypt from 909—1171.

ImanThe leader of collective worship in a mosque.

Iwan Vaulted rectangular recess in a mosque.

Koran (Qur’an)Meaning “recitations”, the Holy Book of Islam.

Kufic An early form of Arabic script; very angular, with uprights forming almost right angles with the baseline.Hejira“Emigration”; the Islamic calendar dates itself from when Muhammad fled from Mecca to Medina in 622.

Minaret A tower from which the faithful are called to worship.

Minbar The pulpit on which an imam stands in a mosque.

Mirhab A semicircular niche set into the qibla wall of a mosque.

Muhammad The founder of Islam, revered as its Final Prophet. He did not claim to be divine and did not perform miracles.

Qibla wall The wall in the direction towards Mecca, which Muslims face when praying.

Umayyads The Islamic dynasty that ruled Syria from 661—749.

True or FalseIslamic art spread quickly both eastward and westward from the land once inhabited by the peoples of the ancient Near East.True

Dome of the Rock

Jerusalem

687-692

Muhammad is believed to have ascended to heaven from the Dome of the Rock

The first great achievement of Islamic architecture was The Dome of the Rock

Dome of the Rock

Jerusalem

687-692

Dome of the Rock; constructed in Jerusalem.

The shape was influenced by the Byzantine domed temples, like the neighboring Constantine’s Rotunda of the Holy Sepulchre.

It was decorated originally in mosaics (now replaced by tile) in vivid colorful patterns for both the interior and exterior. The Dome of the Rock is

located in Jerusalem

Dome of the Rock (interior)

Jerusalem

687-692

Great MosqueDamascus, Syria 706-715

Four features of the Great Mosque at Damascus that show the influence of the Greco-Roman world.It is made of masonry blocks, columns, and capitals salvaged from Roman and Early Christian structures.The courtyard is bordered by pier arcades like those of Roman aqueducts.The minarets are modifications of Roman square towers that were there previously.Its main entrance contains a façade with a pediment that faces into the courtyard, like a Roman forum temple.

True or FalseThe Great Mosque of Damascus owes much to the architecture of the Greco-Roman and Early Christian East.True

Great Mosque

Damascus, Syria

706-715

The courtyard is bordered by pier arcades like those of Roman aqueducts.

Mosaic from CourtyardGreat Mosque

Damascus, Syria

706-715

Why are there no human or animal forms in the mosaics of the Great Mosque at Damascus?Islam shuns the representation of any fauna in sacred places, so flora is dominant.

True or FalseIslamic tradition encourages the representation of fauna in sacred places.False

Byzantine, Late Classical, and Early Christian cultures influenced Islamic art

The cycle of mosaics at the Great Mosque of Damascus were made by Byzantine mosaicists

Plan of the Umayyad Palace

Mshatta, Jordan

ca. 740-750

All mosques are oriented toward the city of Mecca

Detail of the Friezeof the Umayyad PalaceMshatta, Jordanca. 740 - 750limestone16 ft. 7 in. high

Purpose and function of early rural Moslem palaces:Besides being country retreats, they were nuclei for agricultural development of acquired territories, and possibly functioned as hunting lodges.

Frieze of the Umayyad PalaceMshatta, Jordanca. 740 – 750, limestone16 ft. 7 in. high

A series of triangles, each containing a large projecting rosette, framed by elaborately carved moldings. Each triangle is different, and animal figures appear in some of them, but not to the right of the entrance—the part of the façade corresponding to the mosque’s qibla wall.

Abbasid Art

Aerial view of the Great MosqueQayrawan, Tunisia ca. 836-875

Plan of the Great Mosque

Qayrawan, Tunisia

ca. 836-875

True or FalseThe hypostyle mosque exhibits the greatest variation from the original plan for the mosque, Muhammad's house in Medina.False

Great Mosque

Qayrawan, Tunisia

ca. 836-875

Malwiya minaret of the Great MosqueSamarra, Iraq ca. 848-852

The distinguishing feature of the minaret from Samarra is Its steeped spiral ramp. Its name, Malwiya, means “snail shell” in Arabic)

The 165 foot tall Malwiya minaret is in Samarra, Iraq

Mausoleum of the Samanids

Bukhara, Uzbekistan

early 10th century

Malwiya minaret and Great Mosque

Samarra, Iraq

ca. 848-852

Islamic ornament is characterized by Vivid surface pattern created by shaped bricks (mostly for exteriors).Vegetal designs, often highly stylized and abstract.Abstract geometric patterns.Animal figures (in secular settings).

Islamic Luxury Arts

Confronting lions and palm tree

fragment of a textile from Zandana, Uzbekistan

8th centurysilk compound twill2 ft. 11 in. x 2 ft. 9 1/2 in.

Textiles were so highly valued in the Islamic world because wood is rare in the Islamic world, so architectural spaces are mainly filled with carpets and cushions instead of furniture.

Sulayman

Ewer in the form of a bird

796brass with silver and copper inlay1 ft. 3 in. high

A Sulayman's occupation was a metalworker

Quran page with the beginning of surah 18, al Kahf (The Cave)

9th or early 10th centuryink and gold on vellum7 1/4 in. x 10 1/4 in.

Most of the early examples of the script used in the Koran are written in Kufic

Umayyad Art in Iberia

Entrance to the Great Mosque

Córdoba, Spain

8th to 10th centuries

Prayer hall of the Great Mosque

Córdoba, Spain

8th to 10th centuries

Horseshoe arches were an important architectural feature of Mosque at Córdoba

Prayer hall of the Great Mosque

Córdoba, Spain

8th to 10th centuries

Maqsura of the Great Mosque

Córdoba, Spain

961-965

Spain is the European country that contains the best examples of Islamic architecture

Dome in front of the mihrabof the Great Mosque

Córdoba, Spain

961-965

Plaque

10th or early 11th centuryivory, quartz, pigment4 1/4 x 8 in.

Plaque

10th or early 11th centuryivory, quartz, pigment4 1/4 x 8 in.

Plaque

10th or early 11th centuryivory, quartz, pigment4 1/4 x 8 in.

LATER ISLAMIC ARTMadrasa

“Place of study”; a theological college.

Mamluks

Former Turkish slaves who converted to Islam.

Muqarnas

Stalactite-like prismatic, lacelike forms.

Ottoman Turks

Osman I founded this dynasty in Anatolia after the Seljuks fell to Genghis Khan in the 13th century. By the 15th century they were one of the great world powers.

Shahnama

Persian national epic poem by Firdawsi, recounting the history of Iran from Creation until the Muslim conquest.

Sinan the Great

The most famous Ottoman architect (c. 1491—1588). A contemporary of Michaelangelo, he perfected the Ottoman architectural style.

Suliyman the Magnificent

Metalworker, creator of fine metal objects such as a ewerstatuette in the shape of a bird.

Court of LionsAlhambra Palace

Granada, Spain

1354-1391

The Alhambra, Meaning “the red”, a huge palace-fortress constructed of rose-colored stone on a rocky spur at Granada, built by the Nasrids.

Its gardens were intended to conjure images of Paradise.

Court of LionsAlhambra Palace

Granada, Spain

1354-1391

Court of LionsAlhambra Palace

Granada, Spain

1354-1391

Muqarnas dome, hall of the Two SistersAlhambra Palace

Granada, Spain

1354-1391

The Alhambra is the Hall of the Two Sisters

Mamluk Art

Madrasa-mosque-mausoleum complex of Sultan Hasan

Cairo, Egypt

1356-1363

Madrasa-mosque-mausoleum complex of Sultan Hasan is uncolumned, unlike hypostyle mosques.

It is relatively austere compared to the filigreed Alhambra and other mosques; it is dominated by its massiveness and geometric clarity.

It has a fountain in its courtyard, not seen elsewhere, and the tomb of Hasan is south of the qibla, so praying Muslims would be directing their prayers towards the tomb.

plan of the Madrasa - Mosque - Mausoleum complex of Sultan Hasan

Cairo, Egypt

Qibla wall, main iwanMadrasa-mosque-mausoleum complex of Sultan Hasan

Cairo, Egypt

1356-1363

Mosque developed by the Ottoman Turks

A square prayer hall covered by a dome as its 0e, which became the nucleus of all Ottoman architecture.

It is more centralized than other hypostyle mosques, with four minarets, one on each corner of the square base of the mosque, to offset the central dome. Any number and size of domes and juxtaposed geometric spaces could be put together.

Ottoman Turkish Art

Sinan

Mosque of Selim II

Edirne, Turkey

1568-1575

Sinan the Great built the Mosque of Selim II at Edirne

Anthemius of Tralles & Isidorus of Miletus

Hagia Sophia

Constantinpole, (Istanbul), Turkey

532-537

Anthemius of Tralles & Isidorus of Miletus

Hagia Sophia

Constantinpole, (Istanbul), Turkey

532-537

Sinan

plan of Mosque of Selim II

Edirne, Turkey

1568-1575

Sinan

Mosque of Selim II (interior)

Edirne, Turkey

1568-1575

Seljuk Art

Aerial View of the Great MosqueIsfahan, Iran11th to 17th centuries

Four iwans open onto the courtyard, one at the center of each side. A dome leads into the mihrab. The qibla iwan is always the largest, which immediately indicated to worshippers which direction to pray.

Courtyard of the Great MosqueIsfahan, Iran11th to 17th centuries

Winter Prayer Hall of the Shahi (Imam) Mosque

Isfahan, Iran

1611-1638

Dome of the Shah Mosque

Isfahan, Iran

1611-1638

Mihrab from the Madrasa Imami

Isfahan, Iran

ca. 1354glazed mosaic tilework11 ft. 3 in. x 7 ft. 6 in.

Three types of objects that were often decorated with calligraphy:

Walls.Manuscripts. Tiles.

Islamic decoration makes extensive use of calligraphic, organic, and arabesque

Characteristics of the arabesque include abstract patterns, potential for unlimited growth, and independence of the carrier of the design

Timurid Art

Maqsud of Kashan

Carpet from the funerary mosque of Shaykh Safi al-Din

Ardabil, Iran

1540knotted pile of wood and silk34 ft. 6 in. x 17 ft. 7 in.

One of the most highly developed Islamic art forms was textiles

Carpet weaving was elevated to a national industry in Iran by Shah Tahmasp

Bihzad

Seduction of Yusuf folio 52 verso of the Bustan of Sultan Husayn Mayqara

From Herat, Afghanistan

1488ink and color on paper11 7/8 x 8 5/8 in.

Safavid Art

Sultan-Muhammad

The court of Gayumarsdetail of folio 20 verso of the Shahnama of Shah Tahmasp

Tabriz, Iran

ca.1525-1535ink, watercolor and gold on paper13 x 9 in.

The Shahnama is the Persian national epic poem.

Sultan-Muhammad

The court of Gayumarsdetail of folio 20 verso of the Shahnama of Shah Tahmasp

Tabriz, Iran

ca.1525-1535ink, watercolor and gold on paper13 x 9 in.

Sultan-Muhammad

The court of Gayumarsdetail of folio 20 verso of the Shahnama of Shah Tahmasp

Tabriz, Iran

ca.1525-1535ink, watercolor and gold on paper13 x 9 in.

Sultan-Muhammad

Hushang discovers firedetail of folio recto of the Shahnama of Shah Tahmasp

Tabriz, Iran

ca.1525-1535ink, watercolor and gold on paper13 x 9 in.

Ayyubid Art

Canteen with Episodes from the Life of Christ

From Syria

ca. 1240-50brass inlaid with silver1 ft. 2 1/2 in. high

Mamluk Art

Mosque lamp of Sayf al-Din Tuquztimur

From Egypt

1340glass with enamel decoration1 ft. 1 in. high

Luxury itemsManuscript paintings, ceramics, textiles, and metalwork, usually produced as gifts for sultans or specific patrons. They were decorated with literary or religious scenes, or were purely (intricately) decorative.

Muhannad Ibn al-Zayn

Basin (Baptistère de Saint Louis)

From Egypt

ca. 1300brass, inlaid with gold and silver8 3/4 in. high

Mughal Art

Taj Mahal

Agra, India

1632-1647

True or FalseThe first great achievement of Islamic architecture is the Taj Mahal. False

Sub-Saharan Islamic Art

Aerial view of Great Mosque

Djenne, Mali

begun 13th century, rebuilt 1906-07

Eastern façade of Great Mosque

Djenne, Mali

begun 13th century, rebuilt 1906-07

Eastern façade of Great Mosque

Djenne, Mali

begun 13th century, rebuilt 1906-07

Sultan-MuhammadThe court of Gayumarsdetail of folio 20 verso of the Shahnama of Shah TahmaspTabriz, Iranca.1525-1535,ink, watercolor and gold on paper,13 x 9 in.

David composing the PsalmsParis Psalterca. 950-970tempera on vellum14 1/8 in. x 10 1/4 in.

Compare the treatment of volume and space in the manuscript illumination from the Shanama with that in the Paris Psalter. In what ways does the Persian miniature differ from the Byzantine one? What factors might account for the differences?