The World of Islam

Fülszöveg

the world of islam is at once familiar to us and curiously remote. We think, perhaps, of the shimmering blue domes of Isfahan, or of the great mosques and slender minarets of Cairo or Central Asia. Or we consider the exquisite pages from the albums of the Persian miniaturists or the Mughal painters of India. Yet these are only some of the facets which make up the fascinating jewel which is Islamic art.
In his enthralling survey of the history and art of the divergent peoples which composed empire, Dr Grube shows us, with the aid of 200 magnificent illustrations (more than half of which are in colour), the richness and variety of Islamic art.
Under the rule of the Umayyads, the first major Islamic dynasty, a new cultural force made its impact on a world still under the spell of the classical world. Then, with the rise of the Abbasids, traditions of West and Central Asia met and merged. Turkish, Persian and Arabic elements all fused and interacted under the jurisdiction of Islam.... Tovább

Fülszöveg

the world of islam is at once familiar to us and curiously remote. We think, perhaps, of the shimmering blue domes of Isfahan, or of the great mosques and slender minarets of Cairo or Central Asia. Or we consider the exquisite pages from the albums of the Persian miniaturists or the Mughal painters of India. Yet these are only some of the facets which make up the fascinating jewel which is Islamic art.
In his enthralling survey of the history and art of the divergent peoples which composed empire, Dr Grube shows us, with the aid of 200 magnificent illustrations (more than half of which are in colour), the richness and variety of Islamic art.
Under the rule of the Umayyads, the first major Islamic dynasty, a new cultural force made its impact on a world still under the spell of the classical world. Then, with the rise of the Abbasids, traditions of West and Central Asia met and merged. Turkish, Persian and Arabic elements all fused and interacted under the jurisdiction of Islam. The Turks were great architectural innovators, covering their buildings with dazzling faience ornament. They held pride of place in the art of carpet design. The Persian element is best characterised by the superb miniature paintings, some delicate, some in richly glowing colours. The Arabic contribution is most apparent in their stylish calligraphy, a constant reminder that the original guilding force of Islam was Muhammad from Mecca. Arabic is the language of the Koran and Arabic scripts appear everywhere in the decoration of buildings, pottery and textiles. Other people and nations also made their mark in one sphere or other of the arts—the Fatimids of Egypt, the Mamluks of Syria, the Ayyubids, the Mongols and the Mughal emperors of India.
This magnificently illustrated book shows us not only the range, but also the amazing skill and virtuosity of the Islamic artist. With its clear, yet unusually comprehensive coverage of an immense subject, it is an indispensable possession. Vissza