In Praise of Allah:
The Art of the Islamic World
Chapter 13
1
The Kaaba. Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Islamic. Pre-Islamic monument; rededicated
by Muhammad in 631–632 C.E.; multiple renovations. Granite masonry, covered with
silk curtain and calligraphy in gold and silver-wrapped thread.
2
Figure 13-1 and 13-2 Dome of the Rock. Jerusalem, Palestine. Islamic, Umayyad. 687–
692, with multiple renovations. Stone masonry and wooden roof decorated with glazed
ceramic tile, mosaics, and gilt aluminum and bronze dome
3
Figure 13-24 Great Mosque (Masjid-e Jameh). Isfahan, Iran. Islamic, Persian:
Seljuk, Il-Khanid, Timurid and Safavid Dynasties. c. 700 C.E.; additions and
restorations in the 14th, 18th, and 20th centuries C.E. Stone, brick, wood, plaster, and
4
Figure 13-21, 22, 23 SINAN, Mosque of Selim II, Edirne, Turkey, 1568–
1575. Brick and stone.
5
Figure 13-27 USTAD AHMAD LAHORI, Taj Mahal, Agra India,
1632-1647. Stone masonry and marble with inlay of precious and
semiprecious stones.
Figure 13-12, 13, 14 Great
Mosque, Córdoba, Spain,
eighth to tenth centuries.
Stone masonry.
7
Figure 13-12, 13, 14 Great Mosque, Córdoba, Spain, eighth to tenth
centuries. Stone masonry.
8
Figure 13-18 Alhambra palace, Granada, Spain, Nasrid Dynasty.
1354–1391. Whitewashed adobe stucco, wood, tile, paint, and gilding.
9
Figure 15-7 Great Mosque of Djenne. Mali, Founded c 1200; rebuilt
1906-1907. Adobe.
10
Folio from a Qur’an. (Figure 13-17 Reference only) Arab, North
Africa, or Near East. Abbasid. C eighth to ninth century. Ink, color,
and gold on parchment
11
Figure 13-29 SULTANMUHAMMAD, the court of
Gayumars, folio 20 verso of
the Sahnama of Shah
Tahmasp, Tabriz, Iran, ca
1525-1535. Ink, opaque
watercolor, and gold on paper.
12
Bahram Gur Fights the
Karg, folio from the Great
Il-Khanid Shahnama.
Islamic; Persian, Il’Khanid. C
1330-1340. Ink and opaque
watercolor, gold, and silver on
paper.
13
Figure 13-28 The Ardabil Carpet. Masqud of Kashan. 1539-1540. Silk
and wool.
14
Figuer 13-31 Basin (Baptistere de St. Louis). Muhammad ibn al Zain. C
1320-1340. Brass inlaid with gold and silver.
15
Pyxis of al-Mughira.
Umayyad. C 968. Ivory. (figure
15-9 and the sidebar on p. 422
for reference)
16