FREE ESSAY ON ISLAMIC ART AND ARCHITECTURE

ISLAMIC ART AND ARCHITECTURE

Islamic art and architecture points to the artistic accomplishments in the lands where
Islam was the dominant religion and from the seventh century on. These lands were the
Middle East, North Africa, Spain, Anatolia and the Balkans, and central and northern
India. All the monuments and artistic objects, which may have been made with different
materials and techniques, have a common artistic language. Islamic art was an art created
for the setting of every day life. The most notable religious art were the mosque and the
minaret. These were made with the purpose of having a place where people could express
their devotion and learn the principles of the faith. Islamic painting developed in the
form of book illustration and illumination. These paintings were made to help explain a
scientific text and\or to reinforce the pleasure of reading literature or history. There
are certain techniques that distinguish the decorative arts of the Islamic arts. These
techniques involve the application of shimmering glazes and rich colors in ceramics and
glassware. Other techniques include sophisticated silver inlays that convert the surfaces
of bronze metalworks, extravagant designed stucco and wall panels made of 
carved wood, and textiles and carpets woven into millions of different patterns. 2
The oldest figurative representation of Islamic arts correspond to mosaics and painted
murals. All of these are related to architecture since they were used to cover and
decorate the walls of several constructions. These could have been religious or
anti-religious places. The mosaics in these buildings are unique in that in them there
are no representations of animals or humans. These absences are due to religious reasons.
Only plants, big trees, and combinations of landscapes and architectonics, either real or
invented, appeared in the mosaics. In the eighteenth century the use of the mosaics
declined.
On the contrary, the use of mural paintings had a long life in the Muslim art. It also
represents a particular detail. This is its exclusive use of civilian characters in the
buildings. In the Qusayr Amra palace there are remarkably, rich mural paintings. Here
there are representations of hunting, athletic scenes, dancers, construction sites, the
zodiac signs, historical characters, poetry, thoughts, etc., and a group of people
surrounding another person in a throne. In conclusion Islamic art and architecture vary
in a variety of ways because of religious reasons.
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Islamic art in my opinion is very interesting and extraordinary. It is very cult and
unique in that it displays many cultural diversity and religion. Painters and architects
made these masterpieces showing scenes of everyday life. It reflect's the artistic
creativity and ingenuity of these artists. It also reverberates typical customs of these
people.
The painting on the next page is the one that I will criticize. The first step is the
description where I will tell the name of the painting, who made it, when it was made,
and where it was made. Later I will explain the analysis which will say the elements and
principles of art and how they are used. After that there will be an explanation of the
interpretation. This will say how the time and place affected the artist's painting.
Finally I will say the judgement. This will explain if the artwork contributes to the
history of art.
Description
This painting is called Laila and Majnun at School. It was made by the Persian artist
Bihzad in 1494. It was painted in Her t but is know located in Afghanistan. It shows
faces drawn with a sense of grace. There are many people working. There is also a large
tree which has some fruits in it. There is 4
also what appears to be two openings to go out or into a building.
Analysis
The elements used in this painting are line, shape, value, color, and texture. You can
see that lines are used in the edges of the wall, the small fence surrounding the tree,
and in the borders of the painting. Squared and rectangular shapes may be seen in the
fence and the openings in the wall. Value is used because although the painting seems
very yellowish the tree has a totally different color because it is gray. There is also a
large variety of colors in the clothes of the people. Texture is used in the wall of the
painting. 
The principles used were proportion and emphasis. You can see that the proportions of the
people are right in size compared to the walls. The emphasis is made on the tree which is
bigger than everything else and is a bit different in color. 
Interpretation 
At this time the people painted the characteristics of daily life. In this particular
painting there is a reflection of a normal everyday life of people with the Islam
culture. It shows the influence of Chinese landscapes in the flat 
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layered perspective of the painting. The gold colored background is unusual though, for a
painting of the 16th century. So the time and place did affect the painting.Judgement
In my opinion I think that this work of art does contribute to the history of art. This
is because it reflects the typical customs of the past every day life. This makes it
easier to understand the facts of that past time.
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Laila and Majnun at School, by Bihzad in 1494.
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Masjid-I 
Shah 
in E fah n, 
Iran
Dome of The Rock
in Jerusalem
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Taj Mahal 
in India.
Ardab l Turkish 
Carpet Mug made for (16th 
the tomb- Century) mosque of 
Shash 
Tahmasp 
at Ardab l, Iran
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Suleimanniye Mosque at Istanbul in 1550.
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Bibliography
Bibliography
Islamic Art and Architecture. Encarta Interactive. ?1998, CD-Rom
Arte Islamico. Las Claves Del Arte Islamico. Alfredo J. Morales, Editorial Planeta (1991
ed.) Barcelona, Espa?a