Introduction to Islamic Art History

Introduction to Islamic Art History

• Islamic art evolved after the death of Prophet Muhammad, demanding unity
• Abu Bakr, Prophet Muhammad's companion and father-in-law, became the first Caliph
• Abu Bakr unified the Muslim world and expanded its territories
• Within a decade of Muhammad's death, Muslims ruled Arabia, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, and northern Egypt
• Islam spread rapidly eastward and westward from these regions

Islamic Art Characteristics

• Like Moses, Muhammad banned graven images and anything resembling idolatry
• Consequently, Islamic countries produced little figurative art or sculpture
• Instead, Islamic art excelled in architecture, decorative arts, and calligraphy
• The vast influence of conquered lands created a broad range of influences in early Islamic art
• Islamic style became unique over time

Umayyad and Abbasid Dynasties

• The Umayyads were the first Islamic dynasty, ruling from Damascus
• Later, the Abbasids overthrew them and established Baghdad as their capital
• The Dome of the Rock is a significant early Islamic building, commemorating Islam's triumph in Jerusalem
• Umayyad and Abbasid mosques, like those found in Damascus and Kairouan showcase hypostyle-hall type architecture, including arcaded courtyards and minarets
• Early illustrated Korans date to the ninth century, featuring Kufic calligraphy and decorative motifs but no figural illustrations

Dome of the Rock

• The Dome of the Rock is a domed central-plan rotunda in the Late Antique tradition
• Its design is reminiscent of the Pantheon in Rome
• The rock beneath the dome is associated with Adam, Abraham, and Muhammad

Great Mosque of Kairouan

• Kairouan's Great Mosque exemplifies a type of mosque with a forecourt and a hypostyle prayer hall
• Significantly, the mosque's plan closely resembles the layout of Muhammad's house in Medina

Islamic Calligraphy

• In the Islamic world, calligraphy held a place of honor
• Muslim scribes sought to reproduce the Quran's verses in beautiful, highly detailed scripts
• The art of calligraphy demanded long and intense training

Koranic Script

• The oldest known Korans used a rectilinear, stately Kufic script
• The Kufic script originated from Kufa, a city famous for Arabic calligraphy and is angular in style
• The five lines of text in a Koran are written in black ink with red vowels, below a decorative band, concluding with the chapter title in gold and palm-tree finial crown

Islamic Spain

• Abd al-Rahman I established the Umayyad dynasty in Spain after escaping the Abbasid massacre
• The Great Mosque of Cordoba was constructed and expanded between the 8th and 10th centuries
• The mosque features horseshoe and multilobed arches, mosaic-covered domes resting on arcuated squinches
• The Nasrid dynasty, with Granada as their capital, is known for the Alhambra, a significant example of Islamic palace architecture, featuring stucco, walls, arches, and muqarnas decoration

Mosque of Cordoba

• The prayer hall of the Mezquita (Mosque of Cordoba) showcases double-arched pillars supporting a massive roof
• An upper level of arches is strategically placed above the lower arches
• The interior of the mosque, with its intricate arrangement of pillars and the different levels of arches create a sense of vastness and infinity

Muqarnas and Stucco

• Muqarnas is a three-dimensional decoration in Islamic architecture
• Stucco is a cement-based plaster coating used for decorative purposes in walls and ceilings

Mihrab

• Every mosque has a mihrab (prayer niche) that faces Mecca, elaborately decorated as a symbolic entryway
• The mihrab in the Mosque of Cordoba is a domed chamber with intricate carvings (Arabesque) on its entrance arches
• The mihrab's centrepiece is a stylized sculpted shell encrusted with mosaics of blue, green, and reddish leaves on a golden background, encased in an eight-sided star, supporting the dome

Alhambra

• The Nasrid Palace of the Lions takes its name from the courtyard fountain
• The courtyard exhibits a rare Islamic example of stone sculpture, along with interwoven abstract ornamentation and Arabic calligraphy on the stucco walls

Islamic Egypt

• After the Mongol conquests, the centre of Islamic power shifted from Baghdad to Egypt
• Egypt's rulers were former Turkish slaves (Mamluks) who converted to Islam
• Cairo served as the capital of the Mamluk sultanate
• The Mamluks became prolific builders, with Sultan Hasan being particularly ambitious

Ottoman Turkey

• By the mid-15th century, the Ottoman Empire became a major world power
• Ottoman emperors patronized architecture, and their builders produced a new mosque style, with a dome-covered square prayer hall
• The combination of dome and square in Ottoman architecture was geometrically clear, becoming foundational for all Ottoman architecture
• Sinan's Mosque of Selim II showcases this style and engineering mastery

Explore the evolution of Islamic art following the death of Prophet Muhammad and the establishment of the first Caliphate. Discover the unique characteristics that define Islamic art, including the influences of architecture, calligraphy, and decorative arts. Delve into the significance of the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties in shaping this beautiful and diverse art form.