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=J7Rxb
u4FY4Q

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

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

• 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.
 COMMON FEATURES:
Architectural features: dome, cupola, arches, columns
Decorative features: mosaics

DIFFERENT FEATURES:

Christian Art: Islamic Art:

Architectural features: Architectural features:
bell towers minarets

Decorative Features: Decorative Features:

sculptures tiles, floral designs

Images include nature, figures and Images are floral designs,

storytelling geometric patterns, writing
Some other mosques…
Great Mosque of Damascus (706-715 AD). Syria.
The Blue Mosque. Turkey.
Shah Mosque. Iran.