Islamic Art

Chapter 13

Islamic overview

• Dislike of idol worship resulted in strong use of textiles and calligraphy as art forms

• 2 major architectural forms: mosques and palaces

• Islam spread very fast reaching as far as Spain

• Mosques influences by central and basilica plans

Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem 687-692

Detail of mosaic in courtyard of Great Mosque

Great Mosque, Damascus, Syria, 706-715

Mosaic detail, Great Mosque, Damascus

Great Mosque, Tunisia: aerial view

Plan of Great Mosque Tunisia

Malwiya minaret of the Great Mosque, Samarra, Iraq, 848-852

Prayer Hall, Mosque, Cordoba, Spain 961-965

Great Mosque, Cordoba, SpainMaqsura & Dome

Koran Page on vellum 9th/10th century

Dome from Alhambra, Granada, Spain 1354-1391

Alhambra, Court of Lions

Sultan Hasan Madrasa-Mosque-Mausoleum complex, Cairo 1356

Sultan Hasan Madrasa-Mosque-Mausoleum complex plan, Cairo 1356

Sinan the Great, Mosque of Selim II, Erdine, Turkey 1568-1575

Sinan the Great and the Hagia Sophia

Mihrab from Madrasa Imami, Iran 1357, glazed tilework

Taj Mahal, Agra, India, 1632-1647