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AP Art History
A. Architecture
Political & cultural center: Fertile Crescent of Mesopotamia
Muslim caliphs (Damascus, Baghdad): appointed provincial rulers
First religious and secular buildings
1. Jerusalem
a) Captured from Byzantines in 638 CE
b) *Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem, 687-692 CE
- Architectural tribute to the triumph of Islam
- Coming of the new religion
- Late Antique tradition
- Domed central-plan structure from Pantheon
- Likely inspiration: Constantine’s Church
- Wood dome: commanding effect
- Exterior restored
- Rich mosaic ornamentation on the base of the dome
2. Religion and Mythology: Muhammed and Islam
a) Muhammed: Final Prophet (Abraham, Moses, Jesus)
b) Beginnings of Islam: Hijra of Muhammed (622 CE) from Mecca to Medina
c) The Kaaba (“cube”): small cubical building that housed the idols of Islam
- Associated with the era of Abraham and Ishmael
d) Tenet: acceptance of, submission to God’s will
e) Koran: “recitations,” Gabriel’s instructions to Muhammed
- Composed of 114 surahs (chapters) divided into verses
f) Five Pillars of Islam
- Profession of faith in God
Angela Sha
AP Art History
B. Luxury Arts
1. Ivory
a) Centers of production: courts of caliphs/sultans
b) Cordoba had many ivory pyxides (cylindrical box with a
hemispherical lid) as motif symbolic of royal power and
privilege (hunting/musical scenes)
c) *Pyxis of al-Mughira
- Inscription as a prayer for al-Mughira’s well-being
- Decorated with animals and hunters, vine scrolls
2. Metalwork
a) Cast brass ewer, signed by Sulayman
b) Adaptability of motifs to scales/techniques
c) Variability and flexibility of Islamic design, independence from carrier
3. Korans
a) The art of calligraphy (ornamental writing)
b) Passages from the Koran adorned pages of books and the walls of buildings
c) Calligraphy as a holy task, long training; spiritual refinement of scribe
Angela Sha
AP Art History
B. Luxury Arts
Private realm of luxury arts: manuscript paintings, ceramics, texiles, metalwork
1. Ardabil Carpets
a) Carpets with 25 million knots; illusion of a heavenly dome
b) Mosque lamps depicted on the carpet
c) No human/animal figures appear
2. Mosque Lamps
a) Usually made of glass; fragile nature
b) Enamel (colors fused to surface) decoration
3. Timurid Bustan
a) Bihzad’s painting: stylistic elements of vivid color, decorative details
b) Manuscript painting (folio, Seduction of Yusuf)
4. Safavid Shahnama
a) Shah Tagmasp, Safavid Ruler: patron of books
b) Shahnama: Book of Kings; Persian national epic poem
c) *Court of Gayumars, folio from Shanama
- Off-center placement on the page; sense of lightness
permeating the painting
- Gayumar: legendary first king of Iran and his court
- Surrounded by light; delicate touch; sense of lightness/
airiness permeating the painting
5. *Basin, Baptistere de Saint Louis
a) Metalwork, brass basin
b) Inlaid with gold/silver, signed six times by Muhammad Ibn
Al-Zayn (Mamluk artist)
c) Fashioned for a Mamluk patron
d) Central band depicts hunters and Mongol enemies
e) Animals in the friezes, vegetal forms of silver of the bands and
roundels (tondo)
f) Figures and animals decorate inside/underside of the basin
6. Art and Society: Christian Patronage of Islamic Art
a) Christians traveled to Islamic lands as pilgrims or Crusaders
b) Mementos of their journeys
c) Custom-made pieces for Christians
d) e.g. brass canteen decorated with scenes of Jesus
e) Christian manuscripts were used as the source of Christian iconography
f) Artistic interaction between Christians and Muslims