Essays on Islamic Art

Art, architecture, and design are very important clues for historians to figure out what exactly a civilization, culture and society valued. Architecture, in particular, is a very important part of a larger material culture which may be used by historians as clues to figure out what impact these decisions had on the larger culture and the way each society organizes itself. In this sense, it is almost nearly inescapable that each piece of art or building will not in some way or another influence our thinking regarding how each of these societies is organized. This is true everywhere around ...

Comparison Essay on Architectural History of a Building

Introduction The Dome of the Rock (Qubbat as‐Sakhrah) is a religious edifice structure built in the7th century that is located in Jerusalem. It was built by Caliph Abd al‐Malik, the Umayyad. This edifice is not a mosque, but may be described as a Muslim shrine. Like the Mecca Ka'ba, the Dome of the Rock is built on a sacred stone. It is widely believed to be the place from which Muhammad the prophet ascended into heaven in the process of his night journey into heaven. The sacred stone over which this edifice is built was long considered ...

Historic arts are a representation of complex civilization. Islamic art creates an immediate visual impact through its strong aesthetic appeal that transcends distances and space. Since art is a representation of culture, it is influenced by Islamic religion. In this paper, I will describe the basic elements of a particular Islamic art, and see how these elements merge to create such a masterpiece. Islamic art fosters a distinctive culture with its own unique language reflected in art. The piece of art is a glazed fritware bottle (Inv. no. LNS 327 C) from the golden age of the Turkish Empire.

The art is a long necked flask/ ...

Islamic Art: Understanding Visual Wealth behind Religion

The consistent way of adding in faith into their work was a distinct characteristic of Islamic art. Among the primary themes that are found in such artistic works include the presentation of Mohammad, the distinct identification of Allah’s power and the way the Moslems prayed and praised their God Allah. These particular presentations about common themes in the Islamic belief create a well-drawn definition on how they ought to follow the distinct rules of Islam in their lives. What is specifically evident in most Islamic art forms is the absence of personas unlike other religious works.

Relatively, the Moslem artists ...

Question 1:

The Chattri and the Muqarnas

The Chattri is a memorial which was built in appreciation and recognition of the input of the Indian Army in subduing the enemy in the First World War (Chattri.com n.p.). Chattri is a word meaning umbrella in Punjab, Urdu and Hindi. Its umbrella-like design also signifies protection. There is an annual pilgrimage ritual which is done to remember the soldiers.

Muqarnas is a prominent feature of Islamic architecture used in the Muslim world. This style consists of domes, niches and doorways. Their function is primarily decorative although they are solutions to structural problem as well. They give an occasionalist perspective of the ...

Islamic art is probably the most accessible form of expression that represents a complex civilization that often appear mysterious to outsiders. Through its superb balance between form and design, and its brilliant application of colours, Islamic art manages to create an instant visual impact. Due to this ability, its strong aesthetic appeal broadens to audience from different cultures, religion and languages, especially by inviting them to learn more and enjoy the history of various forms of Islamic art. To reach a much bigger target, many websites are nowadays showcasing the Islamic arts in their art gallery. This move, therefore, provides a larger audience ...

Islamic art is often characterized by the concept of religion and how much attached Moslems are to it. Each piece has a valuable connection to religion and culture; elements that matter so much in identifying the real value of Moslem living. Among the most celebrated works of art from the Islamic communities include the mosques that continue to adorn cities as well as rural areas where Moslem are high in population. Mosques, being the place of worship have a special place in the heart of the people recognizing the importance of Islam in their lives. Adorned with tiles and intricate designs, ...

The Prophet’s Mosque

Two categories describe the distinctive visual elements of Islamic art/architecture as decorated surface and structural shape. Understanding these characteristics of Islamic art/architecture proves a historical journey of the second holy mosque built next to the Prophet Muhammad’s home in Medinah in the 5th century 622 C.E. (Araffin 2005). The evolution of mosques from the humble rendering of the first erected with the Prophet’s own hands to the geometric patterned, repetitive designed, and calligraphy domed places of prayer and worship found in the Islamic world today is a testament to the faith in God of all Muslims globally. The ensuing ...

If to take a look at the phenomenon of Islamic civilization, mainly at the architecture, urban planning and poetry, the importance of art in the Islamic world becomes clear. Great masterpieces of Islamic civilization, Islamic architecture in the clearest way answer the question of what Islam is. These buildings have in their proportionality, harmony, tranquility and serenity the most important features of the Islamic message to people. Of course, all kinds of Islamic art: architecture, fabric production, etc., borrowed many of the technologies and methods from different civilizations, in particular, from Ancient Iran and Byzantium. But all of them ...

Henri Matisse is considered to be one of the most important artists of the 20th century, showing with his work and career one of the two paths that modern art would take. The other would be showcased by Pablo Picasso, a friend and rival of Matisse for a great part of the two men’s lives. In the early years of the 20th century Matisse started working with Derain and soon became the leader of the short-lived, yet highly influential, Fauvist style. The Fauves, as they were called focused on color and bright light and these two elements remained important ...

Introduction Begun with the cathedral complex at Pisa and expanded upon in the Basilica of San Marco in Venice, Italian architects of the 11th century were not only able to glorify their own Christian God and saints, but also asserted their dominance over eastern ‘heretics’ through the adaptation and outright theft of eastern architectural influences. These influences can be seen in everything from the bulbous form of the domes to the minor adornments of the cathedrals. The earliest Italian architects were priest and monks who used skilled craftsmen to carry out their ideas of communal Christian living. Italian buildings ...

The Middle East is predominantly an Islamic society. Muslim art and architecture is heavily influenced by the religious attitudes. There is prejudice against pictorial representation of animal figure and human being due to the Prophet Mohammed teachings that are against idols and idol worship. This attitude influenced the development of geometric and stylized designs. Muslims have excelled mostly in the fields of architecture and decorative arts (Choueri 88: Ham 176: Graber 1). Islamic artists draw their inspiration from many sources: inspiration was drawn from Byzantine, Indian, Chinese and Persian models. These craftsmen then made their models in original and ...

A visit was made to the Metropolitan Museum of Art to find suitable art work from the past relating to Islamic art. Three main object were identified as the most suitable artworks to be included in this paper for analyzing the nature of Islamic art. The three objects selected for this paper include incense burner, a pair of carved doors and a cauldron. The term Islamic Art commonly refers to the visual pieces of art that has been produced by the crafty Muslim artists living in the areas, in a dense Muslim population. The explicit definition of this art is complex ...

The author of the documentary movie «Paradise found: Islamic Architecture and Arts» creates this project with the purpose to show the beauty and greatness of the Islamic art pieces. In order to fulfill this idea he travels to muslim countries such as Syria, Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Mali, India (the last one was included due to the muslim period in India and building of Taj Mahal as a result) and shows the greatest pearls of islamic art. The author is absolutely passionate about the muslim culture, he starts his story saying that people who create such masterpieces cannot be ...

The Islamic Golden Age is a historical time that lasted before the 1258. It is an Abbasid period in existence before the Mongolian invasion and conquest of Baghdad. Islamic Historians trace the beginning of the period to the 8th century. It lasted between Muhammad’s eras in 700 AD to 1200 AD. It is one of the most important periods in the Islamic history in which developments during the period brought about an Islamic Renaissance and contributions to the uncivilized period. The Abbasid Caliphate (Muslim religious leaders and a succession of the prophet) ruled over the Muslim subjects in Baghdad, a new ...