Items related to Treasures of Islam: The Glories of Islamic Civilization

Treasures of Islam: The Glories of Islamic Civilization - Hardcover

O'Kane, Bernard

  • 4.22 out of 5 stars
    45 ratings by Goodreads
 
9781844834839: Treasures of Islam: The Glories of Islamic Civilization
Hardcover
ISBN 10: 1844834832 ISBN 13: 9781844834839
Publisher: Watkins Publishing, 1999

Synopsis

Discover the grandeur of Islam in a vivid portrait of some of the greatest and most creative civilizations ever to have existed?a wide range of peoples and cultures all united spiritually by their adherence to Islam and its holy book. This important survey?which features outstanding production values, an oversized volume, a foil-trimmed cover, and special five-color printing?celebrates the remarkable diversity of Muslim art, from beautiful textiles and peerless ceramics to awe-inspiring architecture and exquisite metalwork. With superb photography throughout, this guide marries the religion’s artistic legacy with its rich history, travelling from the royal mosque at Isfahan to the beauty of Quranic illumination.

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Reviews

In this sumptuous volume, O'Kane combines an overview of Islamic art and architecture with a cursory history of Islam's empires and dynasties. Beginning with a brief discussion of the earliest mosque from the seventh century, and showing how Islamic architects created a distinctive artistic tradition, O'Kane (The Iconography of Islamic Art) follows architectural and artistic ideas to the 19th century. Major monuments, such as the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, the Great Mosque of Damascus, the Sultan Hasan mosque in Cairo, the Alhambra in Moorish Spain and the Taj Mahal, are highlighted, as are many works of art, including colorful mosaics, lace-like wood and stone carvings and exquisite manuscript paintings. O'Kane stresses the significance of religious and secular symbolism, and points out the craftsmanship that makes this art a feast for the eye. He does a credible job of surveying a vast panorama of art and culture, but it's difficult to compress so much complex material into one volume. The wealth of glorious full-color illustrations make this beautifully designed book an excellent introduction to the art of Islam. (Oct. 24)
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Publisher
Watkins Publishing
Publication date
1999
Language
English
ISBN 10 
1844834832
ISBN 13 
9781844834839
Binding
Hardcover
Edition number
1
Number of pages
244
Rating
  • 4.22 out of 5 stars
    45 ratings by Goodreads