ISLAMIC

ART

Introduction to Islamic
Art
Islam: submission / recitation
(because it recites the message of the
Prophet)
Islamic art is often defined in art books as
being an art whose boundaries are not
geographical but theological.
Islamic art was produced in many different
geographic regions whose diverse cultures
were unified through the religion of Islam.
Religious influence e.g the Islam religion
greatly forbids portrayal of a human forms
as it is believed to be idolatry.

History of Islamic Art

Islam began as a religious movement in early 7th
century Arabia and quickly spread throughout the
Middle East.
By the 9th Century it had spread to Byzantium and
Persia, as well as parts of Asia, Africa and Europe.
Islamic art developed from many sources: Roman,
Early Christian art, and Byzantine styles were taken
over in early Islamic art and architecture.
Paper making from China, "Arabic" numerals from
India, classical Greek science and philosophy
translations, were all shared.
Central Asian styles were brought in with various
nomadic incursions; and Chinese influences had an
important effect on Islamic painting, pottery, and
textiles.

Characteristics of
There is no representation
of human figure, as
Islamic
Art

Sharia Law does not allow.

The principles of balance and symmetry are
strictly observed.
Use of Arabesque (abstract/stylized version of
repetition of leaf patterns).
It seeks to enhance and beautify life around
rather than to dominate.
It is guided by the Islam religion.
Islamic artists are not trying to reveal their own
personality or to create art which tells a story of
its own/where Allah is the personality of Islamic
art and the Qur'an is the story.

Four Main Designs

Geometric designs
Organic and figural designs
Calligraphic designs
Medallion designs

Geometric Design
A geometric pattern is one that is made up
of regular lines and repeated shapes.
Shapes can be reflected or rotated to
create a pattern.
Islamic artists often have a small
deliberate mistake in their patterns to
show that they are not perfect like Allah.
Patterns and lines are unending which
represents the infinite nature of Allah

The Circle
Is an important
shape in Islamic
religion and Islamic
geometric design.
It symbolizes
wholeness, unity
and perfection.

The Square
The square
symbolizes the
four elements
earth, air, fire and
wind.

The Triangle
The Islamic symbol
of consciousness.
The points
symbolize the
knower, the act of
knowing and the
known.

The Star Pattern

8 pointed star is
most common
It is made of two
squares that are
rotated
Since squares are
considered the
perfect geometric
shape, the 8 pointed
star represents
perfection

The Hexagon

Close in shape to
a circle and is
associated with
the perfection of a
circle.
It is the symbol of
heaven

ORGANIC AND FIGURAL

DESIGNS
Organic and figural works are easily
identified by their curving lines.
Mainly includes flowers and vines.

Swirling leaves and flowers on this

peacock plate from Turkey almost hide
the dainty blue bird in the center of the
plate.

MEDALLION DESIGN
The Medallion style usually has a
central image that is more important
than other elements of the design.
It is usually surrounded by boarders

The Ardabil carpet of North-west Iran

1539 A.D

ART FORMS

1. CALLIGRAPHY
Calligraphy is a major form of art in Islam
especially in there architecture, books and
generally also in decoration.
It uses Arabic script as the focal point of a
design.
In Islamic and Arabic cultures, calligraphy is
a highly respected as the art of writing. It is
unique since its writing is from right to left.
Because Islamic leaders saw in figural arts a
possible implication of idolatry, Islam's early
theocracy looked to the artistry of
calligraphy for religious expression.

 The typical tools for a calligrapher

included reed and brush pens, scissors,
a knife for cutting the pens, an ink pot,
and a sharpening tool (Qalam, The
reed pen).
There were three styles used in this
form of writing: Ma'il (slanting), a kind
of primitive Kufic script; Mashq
(extended); and Naskh (inscriptional).
Calligraphy is used in ceramics, pottery,
body arts, interior and exteriors of
mostly mosques, carpets and paintings.

Primary Styles of calligraphy

Applications of Calligraphy

To Glorify & Beautify Gods words

As a form of worship
As a spiritual activity
Artistic
Decoration
Identity

Calligraphy Ceramic Tiles

Calligraphy in Pottery and Utensils

Calligraphy in Body arts

Calligraphy Interior and Exterior designs

Calligraphy in Carpets (Persian) and Paintings (A golden

leaf from the Quar'n)

Calligraphy on the
wall of the Taj
Mahal
Writings from the
Quran

Calligraphy used to decorate glassware

Calligraphy used to decorate glassware

2. ARCHITECTURE
The principal Islamic architectural forms
are: the Mosque, the Tomb, the Palace and
the Fort.
Unique to Islamic architecture are the
minaret (a tower from which the faithful
are called to worship) that surround the
building.
The role of domes in Islamic architecture
has been considerable. Domes have been
used in Islamic architecture for centuries.

Dome of the Rock (Temple Mount, Old City of

Jerusalem)

Hagia Sofia (Instanbul,

The Taj Mahal, Agra. Shah Jahan's 1648 memorial to

wife Mumtaz Mahal,

Al-Masjid al-HHarm ("The Sacred Mosque"), largest mosque in

the world. (Mecca, Saudi Arabia )

Ar Rahman Mosque in Baghdad-

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi

Great Mosque of Djenn in Mali, 1907

3. PAINTINGS
The best-surviving and highest developed
form of painting in the Islamic world is the
miniature in illuminated manuscripts.
Miniatures were especially an art of the
court, and because they were not seen in
public, it has been argued that constraints
on the depiction of the human figure were
much more relaxed, and indeed
miniatures often contain great numbers of
small figures, and from the 16th century
portraits of single ones.

Elements of Manuscript illumination

4. RUGS AND
CARPETS
Rugs and Carpets are an important art

form in Islam. Carpets are used in

worship.
Two traditions of carpet weaving are most
important in the Muslim world.
Persian
Turkish

 The difference is in the style of hand-weaving