Intro to Islamic Art

copied byzantines and sassranid

A specifically recognizable Islamic architectural style emerged soon after Muhammad's time that incorporated Roman building traditions with the addition of localized adaptations of the former Sassanid and Byzantine models.

miniature:

An illustration in an ancient or medieval illuminated manuscript.

significant developmement was the stonepaste

the first Islamic opaque glazes date to around the 8th century, and another significant contribution was the development of stonepaste ceramics in 9th century Iraq.

arabesque:

: A repetitive, stylized pattern based on a geometrical floral or vegetal design.

minaret:

: The tall slender tower of an Islamic mosque, from which the muezzin recites the adhan (call to prayer).

illuminated manuscripts

A book in which the text is supplemented by the addition of decoration, such as decorated initials, borders (marginalia), and miniature illustrations.

mosque:

A place of worship for Muslims, corresponding to a church or synagogue in other religions, often having at least one minaret. In Arabic: masjid.

mihrab

A semicircular niche in the wall of a mosque, that indicates the qibla (direction of Mecca), and into which the imam prays.

Hispano-Moresque style:

A style of Islamic pottery created in Al-Andaluz, or Muslim Spain, which continued to be produced under Christian rule in styles that blended Islamic and European elements.

lusterware

A type of pottery or porcelain having an iridescent metallic glaze.

muraqqa

An album in book form containing Islamic miniature paintings and specimens of Islamic calligraphy, normally from several different sources, and perhaps other matter.

Mongols:

An umbrella term for a large group of Mongolic and Turkic tribes united under the rule of Genghis Khan in the 13th century.

monotheistic:

Believing in a single god, deity, spirit, etc., especially for an organized religion, faith, or creed

inscriptiions include versus of poetry

Besides Quranic verses, other inscriptions include verses of poetry, and inscriptions recording ownership or donation

manipulated the surface of glass, and by cutting into it to leave the design of a relief

Between the 8th and early 11th centuries, the emphasis in luxury glass was on effects achieved by manipulating the surface of the glass, initially by incising into the glass on a wheel, and later by cutting away the background to leave a design in relief .

luxury arts

Highly decorative goods made of precious materials for the wealthy classes

because they were bad its no surprise they were represented in islamic art

In a religion where figural representations are considered an act of idolatry , it is no surprise that the word and its artistic representation became an important aspect in Islamic art.

ceramics

Inorganic, nonmetallic solids created by the action of heat and their subsequent cooling. Most common ceramics are crystalline and the earliest uses of ceramics were in pottery.

islamic art developed from many sources

Islamic art developed from many sources: Roman, early Christian art, and Byzantine styles ; Sassanian art of pre-Islamic Persia; Central Asian styles brought by various nomadic incursions, and Chinese influences appear on Islamic painting, pottery , and textiles.

not a specific time or region

Islamic art is not art of a specific religion, time, place, or of a single medium . Instead it spans some 1400 years, covers many lands and populations, and includes a range of artistic fields including architecture, calligraphy , painting, glass, ceramics , and textiles, among others.

islamic manuscript painting witjessed in the gikden age - influenced by byzantine with mongol facial types

Islamic manuscript painting witnessed its first golden age in the 13th century when it was influenced by the Byzantine visual vocabulary and combined with Mongol facial types from 12th-century book frontispieces.

irredecent colors were invited in persia and syria from the 9th century onward

Lusterwares with iridescent colors were either invented or considerably developed in Persia and Syria from the 9th century onward.

p\\pottery that dates back to egypt became widespride in the 12th century

Lustre painting uses techniques similar to lustreware in pottery and dates back to the 8th century in Egypt; it became widespread in the 12th century.

masterpieces from the ottoman manuscript include to books of festivals one from the 16th and one from the era of the sultan murad II

Masterpieces of Ottoman manuscript illustration include the two books of festivals, one from the end of the 16th century and the other from the era of Sultan Murad III.

Qu'ran:

The central religious text of Islam, which Muslims believe to be the verbatim word of God (Arabic: Allah). It is widely regarded as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language.

muslim potters were more refined working in areas reconquered by christian kingdoms

The Hispano-Moresque style emerged in the 8th century, with more refined production happening later, presumably by Muslim potters working in areas reconquered by Christian kingdoms.

inspired by muhmmads home in medina, which was the first mosque

The Islamic mosque has historically been both a place of prayer and a community meeting space . The early mosques are believed to be inspired by Muhammad's home in Medina, which was the first mosque.

book was encouraged for large manuscripts

The art of the Persian book was born under the Ilkhanid dynasty and encouraged by the patronage of aristocrats for large illuminated manuscripts .

glassmaking:

The craft or industry of producing glass.

kufic script

The earliest form of Arabic calligraphy is Kufic script .

Kufic script:

The earliest form of Arabic calligraphy, noted for its angular form.

coffee table books were among the first art to mirror daily life

The medieval Islamic texts called Maqamat were some of the earliest coffee-table books and among the first Islamic art to mirror daily life.

Maqamat

The plural for Maqāma, an Arabic literary genre of rhymed prose with intervals of poetry that often ruminates on spiritual topics.

textiles flourished due to silk roads

The production and trade of textiles pre-dates Islam , and had long been important to Middle Eastern cultures and cities, many of which flourished due to the Silk Road .

textile arts

The production of arts and crafts that use plant, animal, or synthetic fibers to create objects.

chinese ceramics were admired

The techniques, shapes, and decorative motifs of Chinese ceramics were admired and emulated by Islamic potters, especially after the Mongol and Timurid invasions

glaze:

The vitreous coating of pottery or porcelain, or a transparent or semi-transparent layer of paint.

idolatry

The worship of idols.

poem that contains more than 200 paintings

Under the rule of the Safavids in Iran (1501 to 1786), the art of manuscript illumination achieves new heights, in particular in the Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp, an immense copy of Ferdowsi's epic poem that contains more than 250 paintings.

textile production was most important

When the Islamic dynasties formed and grew more powerful they gained control over textile production in the region, which was arguably the most important craft of the era.

calligraphy:

he art of writing letters and words with decorative strokes.

muslims believe that the depictio of human form is adultery

slamic religious art differs from Christian religious art in that it is non-figural because many Muslims believe that the depiction of the human form is idolatry , and thereby a sin against God, forbidden in the Qur'an. Calligraphy and architectural elements are given important religious significance in Islamic art.