Writing the Word of God: Calligraphy and the Qur'an

Roxburgh, David J.

ISBN 10: 0300142005 / ISBN 13: 9780300142006

Published by Museum Fine Arts Houston, 2008

About this Item

The book is in good condition with all pages and cover intact, including the dust jacket if originally issued. The spine may show light wear. Pages may contain some notes or highlighting, and there might be a "From the library of" label. Boxed set packaging, shrink wrap, or included media like CDs may be missing.

Seller Inventory # BSM.JF8B

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Writing the Word of God: Calligraphy and the Qur'an
• Publisher: Museum Fine Arts Houston
• Publication Date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0300142005
• ISBN 13: 9780300142006
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: good

About this title

Synopsis

The art of Islamic calligraphy developed from the 7th to the 14th century, beginning in western Arabia, spreading south to Yemen and north to the Near East, and continuing east and west to Iran, Egypt, North Africa, and Spain. This handsome book demonstrates the breadth and beauty of Islamic calligraphy across centuries and continents, as seen in rare early folios of the Qur’an.

 

Noted scholar David J. Roxburgh begins by discussing the Qur’an, which Muslims believe to be the written record of a series of divinely inspired revelations to the Prophet Muhammad. He then analyzes Kufic script, the preeminent vehicle for writing early manuscripts of the Qur’an; reforms of calligraphy in the 10th century; and the great master Islamic calligraphers, in particular Yaqut al-Musta‘simi. The beautiful reproductions of folios and bifolios validate Roxburgh’s conclusion that “the miracle of the text of the Qur’an found its equal in the technical mastery of the calligrapher’s practice, a miracle in its own right.” 

About the Author

David J. Roxburgh is the Prince Alwaleed bin Talal Professor of Islamic Art History in the Department of Art and Architecture at Harvard University.