Product Description

Covering a thousand years of history and an area stretching from the Atlantic to the borders of India and China, this text is a guide to the arts of Islam. From the supreme confidence of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem to the scores of exquisite buildings of Ottoman Istanbul; from the elegant palace complex of the Alhambra in Granada to the splendours of 17th-century Isfahan; from the virtuosity of Persian painting in the 15th century to the vivid ceramic tradition of Ottoman Iznik, the evolution of the range of Islamic arts is explored. Supported by a glossary of Islamic terms, a timeline and maps which untangle the complex history of Islamic dynasties and their artistic achievements, the book traces the architecture, calligraphy, book illumination, painting, ceramics, textiles, metalwork and other art forms of this prolific civilization, whose works survive in abundance.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #139426 in Books
• Published on: 1999-01-25
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Customer Reviews

A Hard Read
While the pictures are good, and the book is printed on high quality glossy paper, the text is thick and hard to follow. There are too many facts crammed in without enough context, and the tone is relentlessly dull. One gains little sense of where each item fits into the overall picture. A confusing book.

A wonderful insight into the exquisite architechture
I had been looking for a book like this recently and as was overjoyed by the information in the book. It is for somebody who is interested in architetural creativeness that has existed in this world and was joyous to read. It gives somebody with no knowledge of islam architecture and culture and very good start and builds on it.

I would recommend this to even the general reader interested in non-fiction type books.