THE ISLAMIC WORLD GARDNER CHAPTER 13-3 PP. 355-362
Slide 2
GREAT MOSQUE, ISFAHAN Aerial view of the Great Mosque (looking
southwest), Isfahan, Iran, eleventh to seventeenth centuries The
typical Iranian mosque plan of four vaulted IWANS and a courtyard
may have been used for first time in this mosque built in Isfahan
The qibla iwan is the largest -> its size and dome covered
maqsura in front of it indicated the proper direction for Muslim
prayer
Slide 3
ISLAMIC TILEWORK Mihrab from the Madrasa Imami, Isfahan, Iran,
ca. 1354. Glazed mosaic tilework, 11 3 X 7 6 Starting with Dome of
the Rock, the earliest major Islamic building, mosaics and or
ceramic tiles used to decorate walls and vaults of mosques,
madrasas, palaces, and tombs MOSAIC TILEWORK = large ceramic panels
of single colors are fired and then cut into smaller pieces and set
like tesserae CUERDA SECA = polychrome tiles bearing geometric,
vegetal, and Arabic script
Slide 4
IRANIAN TILEWORK Winter prayer hall of the Shahi (Imam) Mosque,
Isfahan, Iran, 1611-1638 One of the masterpieces of Islamic
tilework Its dome is tile mosaic -> its winter prayer hall is
cuerda seca tiles -> covered walls, arches, and vaults -> had
to manufacture a wide variety of shapes with curved surfaces to
sheathe the hall
Slide 5
SHAHI MOSQUE, ISFAHAN
Slide 6
MADRASA IMAMI, ISFAHAN Mihrab from the Madrasa Imami, Isfahan,
Iran, ca. 1354. Glazed mosaic tilework, 11 3 X 7 6 Some of the
masterworks of Arabic calligraphy are not in manuscripts but on
walls The pointed arch that frames the mihrab niche bears an
inscription from the Koran in Kufic Outer rectangular frame is
another type of Islamic calligraphy Niche and area above pointed
arch -> geometric and abstract floral motifs Calligraphic and
geometric elements are so unified that only a practiced eye can
distinguish them
Slide 7
LUXURY ARTS TIMURID BUSTAN BIHZAD, Seduction of Yusuf, folio 52
of the Bustan of Sultan Husayn Mayqara, from Herat, Afghanistan,
1488. Ink and color on paper The most famous Persian painter of his
age was Bihazad -> worked for the sultan at Herat Story of the
seduction of Joseph by Potiphars wife Vivid color, intricate
decorative detailing, and brilliant balance between two-
dimensional patterning and perspective Timurid dynasty in Persia 14
th and 15 th centuries
Slide 8
SAFAVID SHAHNAMA SULTAN-MUHAMMAD, Court of Gayumars, folio 20
verso of the Shahnama of Shah Tamasp, from Tabriz, Iran, 1525-1535
Ink, watercolor, and gold on paper The Shahnama is the Persian
national epic poem -> this page is the work of Sultan-Muhammad
-> depicts the legendary first king of Persia Lightness and
airiness permeate the painting -> this is enhanced by the
off-center placement of the image of the page Safavids were the
successors to the Timurids in Iran
Slide 9
ADARBIL CARPETS MAQSUD OF KASHAN, carpet from the funerary
mosque of Shaykh Safi al-Din, Ardabil, Iran, 1540. Knotted pile of
wool and silk, 34 6 X 17 7. Carpet weaving became a national
industry in Persia Name of the designer Maqsud of Kashan is woven
into the design of the carpet Required roughly 25 million knots,
340 per square inch Central sunburst medallion representing the
inside of a dome -> surrounded by 16 pendants -> mosque lamps
suspended -> reflection from a blue pool w/floating lotus
blossoms
Slide 10
MOSQUE LAMPS Mosque lamp from Egypt, 1340 Glass with enamel
decoration, 11 high The glass lamps hung on chains from the mosques
ceilings Includes a quotation from the Koran comparing Gods light
to the light in the lamp -> the lit lamp would have dramatically
illuminated this verse
Slide 11
BAPTISTERE DE SAINT LOUIS MUHAMMAD IBN AL-ZAYN, basin
(Baptistre de Saint Louis), from Egypt, ca. 1300. Brass, inlaid
with gold and silver, 8 3/4 high. Brass basin from Egypt inlaid
with gold and silver Used for washing hands at official ceremonies
Central band depicts Mamluk hunters and Mongol enemies
Slide 12
Canteen with episodes from the life of Christ, from Syria, ca.
12401250. Brass, inlaid with silver, 1 2 1/2 diameter During the 11
th -13 th centuries large numbers of Christians traveled to the
Holy Land as either pilgrims or crusaders -> many returned
w/souvenirs This unique brass canteen w/inlaid silver was
commissioned by wealthy Christian patron Madonna and Child
enthroned in central medallion, three panels w/New Testament scenes
from the life of Jesus unfold in counterclockwise sequence
Decorative details are Islamic Christian patronage of Islamic
art