LA 222 Quiz 5

Lutfullah Mosque, Isfahan, 17th century, Safavid

• first monumental addition to the maydan in Isfahan

• used as shah’s private chapel (bc of this, there is no mineret or courtyard since it’s not congregational)

• maqsura = private building for shah

• tile work (blue) from Timurid legacy

• skewed facade

• low dome

• light filtered through screened window which is ornamental on exterior

maqsura

private building for shah

Masjid-i-Shah, 17th century, Isfahan, Safavid

• congregational mosque

• at the south end of the Maydan so it draws people through the maydan, past shops

• skewed, 4-iwan mosque

• iwans and blue tile across buildings creates cohesion

• large pishtaq portal

• double shell pointed dome and drum, rises above city with a commanding presence, prepresentative of shah

• spolia from mosques (unusual)

• painted tile instead of cut tile to save time

• cuerda seca = wax resisting glazing technique

• rushed construction to finish before shah’s death

cuerda seca

wax resisting glazing technique

Ali Qapu Pavillion, 16-17th century, Isfahan, Safavid

• Ali Qapu means “Sublime Portal

• palace and gateway overlooking the Maydan

• talar porch = hypostyle porch

• no cohesive plan because it was constructed in stages

• porch is the most notable feature, it was used for the Shah’s viewing of the Maydan

• music room with muquarnas valut ceiling, chini khana added increased sonic reverance and a playful visual effect

• wall murals

talar porch

hypostyle porch, porch with trabiated arches

chini khana

“china cabinet”, shaped cutouts as design

Chihil Sutun Pavilion and Garden, 17th century, Isfahan, Safavid

• pavillion in the middle of a garden

• talar porch

• re use of timurid name, shows self consciousness of past

• talar porch helps blur distinction between indoors and outdoors, focus on looking outward

• in laid mirrors reflect garden, helps the building and garden melt together

• large pool in front of pavillion

• Hall of Murals

Hesht Behesht Pavilion in the Bagh-i Bulbul (Garden of the Nightingale), 17th century, Isfahan, Safavid

• octagonal pavilion

• hesht behesht means “8 paradises” = timurid names

• 3 deep talars + a 4th porch

• 4 open areas and 4 closed areas

• look out to garden and water

• pavilion = center piece of garden, it has a grand fountain, under muqarnas dome painted with gold, tiny mirrors and occulus

• fanciful metal fruit as decoration, representing a mastery over nature

Bagh-i Fin, 16th century, in Kashan, Safavid +Wajar

• restored in 18-19th century

• estate

• used qanats for water

• inside-outside flow

• blue tile waterways

• chadars at slight ground level changes

• under pavilion’s dome, water takes up the entire central space focing you to notice the water

Bagh-i Takht, 17th century, rebuilt 18th century, Shiraz, Safavid + Qajar

• hillside setting with stepped terraces

• 7 garden terraces with water flowing from one consistent axis

• highest terrace = residential pavillion overlooking everything

Shah-Gul Garden, 18/19the c ?, in Tabriz, Qajar Period

• artifical lake (11 acres)

• 7 stepped terraces

• walkway to middle of water here ther’s a floating pavillion

Bagh-i Shahzadeh in Mahan (Iran),19th century, Qajar period

• water arrives via qanat

• human-made oasis in a desert

• trees, flower beds, chadars

• axis of water flow dictates layout/ organization

• dependent on irrigation

• contrast between desert and garden

Mughal Empire

1526-1868

Emperors= Babur, Humayun, Akbar

Stepwell

• water level changes according to monsoon season

• access by tiered steps

• bag and pulley system for water lifting

Bag & Pulley System

• bags of water pulled up by draft animals with the help of a pulley

Babur’s Garden at Dholpur, 16th Century, Mughal

• life cycle of the lotus represented in ornamental stone pools

• chadar with ridges to animate the water cascade

Humayun’s Tomb, Delhi, 16th century, Mughal

• built by son Akbar in collaboration with Humayun’s Widow

• chahr bagh on a grand scale

• first monumental Mughal Imperial Tomp, it represents Mughal authority and legitimacy, and also expresses connections betweeen Mughal dynasty and Timur

• each chahr bagh quadrant is subdivided into 9 squares

• water follows same path as pedestrian path

• chadars and ornamental pools

• Tomb = double-shell central dome, 8-part hesht behesht plan (timurid influence)

• local red sandstone facade

• chattris are indigenous Indic element

• iwans on each face of tomb are Timurid Importation

• jali- pierced stone screens

• hizar (restricted space) tomb area

chattris

“umbrellas”- an indigenous Indic element

jali

pierced stone screens

Agra

1565 Akbar made Agra the Mughal capitol

Agra Fort, 16th century, in Agra, Mughal

• seat of government

• semi-circle shape

• red sandstone fort, called “red fort”

• panoramic vistas, along river

Jahangiri Mahal at Agra Fort, 16th century, Agra, Mughal

• zenana = imperial women’s quarters

• calm, balance, order

• iwan + pishtaq portal

• chattris mark end of facade (like how minerets did)

• red sandstone

• corbeled arches

• visual representation

• chini khana used as a screen

• Mughal theme: eclectic architecture symbolic of the Mughal eclectic population

Fatehpur-Sikri, Mughal

• Palace city by Akbar

• Akbar held theological debate——→ Akbar was pro personal spiritualism, which contributed to the move of the palace city to Fatehpur-Sikri

• fiat city

Public and Residential Zone of Fatehpur-Sikri

• semi-Public

  • private audience hall with central pillar and balcony

  • cosmic or mandala references

• semi-Private

  • Anup Talau: large pool with platform and bridges, entertainment space

  • Akbar’s apartments

  • parcheesi board

• Private

  • Panch Mahal: 5 stories, for women to surveil, edge of private and semi-private zone

• Zenana (Harem) Garden

  • chahr bagh

  • 2 chattris

  • water channels

  • corner tank stored water from step well

Ffatehpur-Sikri Jami Mosque, 16th century, Mughal

• sufi center or kanqah

• stepwell for ablution before prayer

• Tomb of Salim ad-Din Chisti, in the mosque (Akbar’s Spiritual advisor)