Islamic Art

Characteristics…

• Non-figural decoration – three types of decoration are most often used in religious Islamic designs. They are geometric patterns, vegetation & calligraphy. Represents the infiniteness of God.

• The minaret (calls worshippers to prayer)• Features borrowed from the Greeks, and

Romans

Terminology

Arabesque – means “arab – style”, it is a complex, ornate design of intertwined floral, and repeated geometric forms. Usually found as decoration on the walls of mosques.

Stucco – (plaster) used to create decorative features on buildings.

Mosque – an Islamic temple or place of worship for Muslims.

Cupola – a rounded convex roof on a circular base (a dome of small size).

24. The Alhambra. (begun c.1238 AD) Grenada, Spain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7Rxbu4FY4Q

mocarabes

mocarabes

24.The Alhambra. (begun c. 1238) Granada, Spain.

History:Moors – the Islamic rulers of Spain (710-1492) Spain’s most significant example of Islamic architecture.

Purpose: -fortress-palace for Moorish rulers. -The fortress has residences, courts, offices, a bath and a mosque.

-Alhambra means the “red fortress”.

Forms of Decoration:-the architects of the Alhambra was to cover every single space with decoration, no matter the size of the space-Stucco and or wood carvings -mosaic tiles-Arabesque style-The text reads “Only God is Victor"

25. Dome of the Rock. (late 7th Century AD) Jerusalem, Israel.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/20/Israel-2013-Jerusalem-Temple_Mount-Dome_of_the_Rock-Detail_01.jpg

25. Dome of the Rock. (late 7th

century) Jerusalem, Israel.

History:-the Dome of the Rock is sacred to three major religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam, it is considered to be a “place of oneness” (see next slide)

Forms of decoration:-tiles-mosaics-mathematical patterns-no figures or images (just patterns and designs)

Architectural Features:-dome-columns-arches

History of the Temple Mount

957 BC – David made a temple to house the ark of the covenant. This was the Temple of Solomon.

587-86 BC – destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar II of Babylon.

515 BC – second temple build (Where Jesus’ teachings in the temple)

70 AD - the temple was destroyed (all that remained was the western wall)

135 AD - Emperior Hadian build a temple to Jupiter

614 AD - Dome of the Rock was built

Significance of the Dome of the Rock _______________________________________________

For Jewish People: – They believe the rock is the foundation stone where

God created man.– They believe it was first consecrated by the

Israelites of Exodus. – They believe it was the site where Abraham

prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac .– Site of the Temple of Solomon.

For Christians:– Jesus’ teachings & for the same reason listed above.

For Muslims: – It is the site where Mohammed began his ascent to

Heaven.

26. Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. Taj Mahal.(1632-1653) Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India.

26. Ustad Ahmad Lahauri. Taj Mahal. (1630-1653) India.History:-Mughal Architecture which combined Indian, Persian and Islamic influences

Forms of decoration:-dado tiles-mosaics-mathematical patterns-no figures or images (just patterns and designs)-decorations on the spandrels (the space between the arch and the rectangular closure)

Architectural Features:-4 minarets over 40meters high-onion dome-columns-arches

Legend:-According to one gruesome (and most likely sensational) story, Shah Jahan had his minions cut off the hands of the Taj Mahal's architect and his workers after the structure was completed, ensuring they would never build another of its kind.

• Iznik pottery designs• Cobalt blue• Chinese influences (fascination with Chinese pottery)

• Geometric patterns (Islamic in design)

Extra info…

• Developed in the region of Western Anatolia (eastern turkey)

• Other Iznik designs included blue, purple, red, green, turquoise, grey and black.

27. Decorated Plate Fritware, polychrome painted under a transparent glaze. (1580) Iznik, Turkey.

Islam forbids the portrayal of living creatures, so most İznik designs are floral or geometric: The tulip represents God and the rose represents the Prophet Muhammad. The name comes from a small Turkish town that was the center of a flourishing ceramics industry during the Ottoman Empire (five hundred years ago). Hundreds of İznik artisans were employed to make quartz tiles and ceramic ware for the powerful Sultan.

• Mosaic• Design forms geometric

patterns based on five- and ten-pointed stars.

• This style of wall decoration was used especially in the interiors of mosques.

28. Dado panel. (15th century) Marble mosaic. Egypt.

Christian Art:

COMMON FEATURES:

Architectural features: dome, cupola, arches, columns

Decorative features: mosaics

Islamic Art:

Architectural features:

minarets

Decorative Features:

tiles, floral designs

Images are floral designs, geometric patterns, writing

Architectural features: bell towers

Decorative Features: sculptures

Images include nature, figures and storytelling

DIFFERENT FEATURES:

Some other mosques…

Great Mosque of Damascus (706-715 AD). Syria.

The Blue Mosque. Turkey.

Shah Mosque. Iran.