Art of Islam Midterm

Umayyad Palace of Mshatta

• mid 8th century

• Jordan

• stone and brick

• German acquisition shows 19th century European interest in the Ornamental

• Questions of the role of the art historian — Islam art has previously been defined by the tastes of western art historians; the role of the art historian in advancing western colonial interests?

• Persian + Byzantine art traditions = development of a unique Umayyad artistic identity

Ka’ba

• 7th century; rebuilt many times throughout history

• Mecca

• stone, marble, limestone

• holiest site in Islam, the qibla (direction of prayer)

• start of the Tawaf (ritual of pilgrammage that starts at the black stone)

Dome of the Rock

• late 7th century

• Jerusalem

• stone, tile, wood, glass, mosaic

• oldest surviving work of Islamic architecture

• inscriptions proclaim Islam and the prophet Mohammad

• religious and political supremacy of Islam in Jerusalem

• inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque, first qibla before the Ka’ba, also holy to Jewish tradition

Coins

• late 7th century

• gold

• Umayyad Caliphate, Syria

• reform by Abd al-Malik

• imerial currency and the development of Umayyad political state

• if the coin has an icon, it is pre-reform

Mosque of Damascus

• 715

• Damascus

• stone, glass, marble, mosaic

• mosaics represent idealized paradise, version of empire

• developing Umayyad power, built with state tax revenue

• Muslim victory and the appropriation of a major Christian site

Wooden Panels w/ Inlay

• 2nd half of 8th century

• wood, bone, ivory

• Egypt

• shows Roman influence, Sassanian and Byzantine influence

• likely from side of cenotaph

Silks from Cathedral of Split

• ~700

• Adriatic coast

• floral decorations, abstract motifs

Blue Quaran Page

• 9th or 10th century

• parchment, gold leaf

• possibly Islamic Iberia

• colored parchment and gold leaf

• opulence

• calligraphy developed out of religious need to make copies of quaran

• arabic text is stretched to guide the reader

Ivory

• 8th century

• Athens Museum if fragments or Jordan if head

• Islamic influence in trade

• opulence