Why Did Islam Prohibit the Depiction of People or Animals in Religious Art?

Islamic Fine art

Islamic art encompasses visual arts produced from the seventh century onwards by culturally Islamic populations.

Learning Objectives

Identify the influences and the specific attributes of Islamic art

Cardinal Takeaways

Central Points

• Islamic art is not art of a specific religion, fourth dimension, identify, or of a unmarried medium . Instead it spans some 1400 years, covers many lands and populations, and includes a range of artistic fields including compages, calligraphy , painting, glass, ceramics , and textiles, amid others.
• Islamic religious art differs from Christian religious fine art in that it is non-figural because many Muslims believe that the delineation of the human form is idolatry , and thereby a sin against God, forbidden in the Qur'an. Calligraphy and architectural elements are given important religious significance in Islamic art.
• Islamic art adult from many sources: Roman, early Christian art, and Byzantine styles ; Sassanian art of pre-Islamic Persia; Primal Asian styles brought by various nomadic incursions, and Chinese influences appear on Islamic painting, pottery , and textiles.

Fundamental Terms

• Qu'ran: The central religious text of Islam, which Muslims believe to be the verbatim word of God (Arabic: Allah). Information technology is widely regarded equally the finest slice of literature in the Standard arabic language.
• arabesque: A repetitive, stylized pattern based on a geometrical floral or vegetal design.
• idolatry: The worship of idols.
• monotheistic: Believing in a single god, deity, spirit, etc., especially for an organized religion, faith, or creed.

Islam

Islam is a monotheistic and Abrahamic religion articulated by the Qur'an, a book considered by its adherents to be the verbatim word of God (Allah) and the teachings of Muhammad , who is considered to be the last prophet of God. An adherent of Islam is called a Muslim.

Most Muslims are of 2 denominations: Sunni (75–90%),[7] or Shia (10–20%). Its essential religious concepts and practices include the five pillars of Islam, which are basic concepts and obligatory acts of worship, and the following of Islamic law, which touches on every aspect of life and club. The five pillars are:

1. Shahadah (belief or confession of faith)
2. Salat (worship in the class of prayer)
3. Sawm Ramadan (fasting during the month of Ramadan)
4. Zakat (alms or charitable giving)
5. Hajj (the pilgrimage to Mecca at least in one case in a lifetime)

Islamic Fine art

Islamic art encompasses the visual arts produced from the seventh century onward by both Muslims and non-Muslims who lived within the territory that was inhabited by, or ruled by, culturally Islamic populations. It is thus a very difficult art to ascertain because it spans some 1400 years, roofing many lands and populations. This art is also not of a specific faith, time, place, or single medium. Instead Islamic art covers a range of creative fields including architecture, calligraphy, painting, glass, ceramics, and textiles, amongst others.

Islamic art is non restricted to religious fine art, simply instead includes all of the fine art of the rich and varied cultures of Islamic societies. It frequently includes secular elements and elements that are forbidden by some Islamic theologians. Islamic religious art differs greatly from Christian religious art traditions.

Considering figural representations are mostly considered to be forbidden in Islam, the give-and-take takes on religious meaning in art equally seen in the tradition of calligraphic inscriptions. Calligraphy and the decoration of manuscript Qu'rans is an important aspect of Islamic art as the word takes on religious and artistic significance.

Islamic compages, such equally mosques and palatial gardens of paradise, are also embedded with religious significance. While examples of Islamic figurative painting do be, and may embrace religious scenes, these examples are typically from secular contexts, such as the walls of palaces or illuminated books of poetry.

Other religious art, such as glass mosque lamps, Girih tiles, woodwork, and carpets usually demonstrate the same style and motifs as contemporary secular fine art, although they exhibit more prominent religious inscriptions.

A calligraphic panel by Mustafa Râkim (tardily 18th–early 19th century): Islamic art has focused on the depiction of patterns and Arabic calligraphy, rather than on figures, because it is feared by many Muslims that the depiction of the human course is idolatry. The panel reads: "God, there is no god but He, the Lord of His prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the Lord of all that has been created."

Islamic art was influenced past Greek, Roman, early on Christian, and Byzantine art styles, likewise as the Sassanian art of pre-Islamic Persia. Central Asian styles were brought in with diverse nomadic incursions; and Chinese influences had a formative result on Islamic painting, pottery, and textiles.

Themes of Islamic Fine art

There are repeating elements in Islamic art, such every bit the use of stylized , geometrical floral or vegetal designs in a repetition known as the arabesque . The arabesque in Islamic art is often used to symbolize the transcendent, indivisible and infinite nature of God. Some scholars believe that mistakes in repetitions may be intentionally introduced as a show of humility by artists who believe only God tin produce perfection.

Arabesque inlays at the Mughal Agra Fort, Bharat: Geometrical designs in repetition, know as Arabesque, are used in Islamic art to symbolize the transcendent, indivisible, and infinite nature of God.

Typically, though non entirely, Islamic art has focused on the depiction of patterns and Arabic calligraphy, rather than human or animal figures, because it is believed past many Muslims that the depiction of the human being form is idolatry and thereby a sin confronting God that is forbidden in the Qur'an.

Still, depictions of the human form and animals tin can be found in all eras of Islamic secular art. Depictions of the human form in art intended for the purpose of worship is considered idolatry and is forbidden in Islamic police, known as Sharia law.

Islamic Architecture

Islamic compages encompasses a wide range of styles and the principal example is the mosque.

Learning Objectives

Depict the development of mosques, and their dissimilar features during unlike periods and dynasties

Key Takeaways

Key Points

• A specifically recognizable Islamic architectural style emerged presently later Muhammad's time that incorporated Roman edifice traditions with the addition of localized adaptations of the former Sassanid and Byzantine models.
• The Islamic mosque has historically been both a place of prayer and a community coming together space . The early mosques are believed to be inspired by Muhammad's dwelling house in Medina, which was the first mosque.

Key Terms

• mosque: A place of worship for Muslims, corresponding to a church building or synagogue in other religions, often having at least one minaret. In Arabic: masjid.
• mihrab: A semicircular niche in the wall of a mosque, that indicates the qibla (direction of Mecca), and into which the imam prays.
• minaret: The tall slender tower of an Islamic mosque, from which the muezzin recites the adhan (call to prayer).

Islamic Architecture

Islamic architecture encompasses a wide range of both secular and religious styles. The principal Islamic architectural instance is the mosque. A specifically recognizable Islamic architectural style emerged soon afterwards Muhammad's time that incorporated Roman building traditions with the addition of localized adaptations of the sometime Sassanid and Byzantine models.

Early Mosques

The Islamic mosque has historically been both a place of prayer and a customs meeting infinite. The early on mosques are believed to be inspired by Muhammad'south habitation in Medina, which was the kickoff mosque.

The Great Mosque of Kairouan (in Tunisia) is one of the best preserved and most significant examples of early great mosques. Founded in 670, information technology contains all of the architectural features that distinguish early mosques: a minaret , a big courtyard surrounded by porticos , and a hypostyle prayer hall.

Dome of the mihrab (ninth century) in the Great Mosque of Kairouan, also known as the Mosque of Uqba, in Kairouan, Tunisia: This is considered to be the antecedent of all the mosques in the western Islamic world.

Ottoman Mosques

Ottoman mosques and other architecture first emerged in the cities of Bursa and Edirne in the 14th and 15th centuries, developing from earlier Seljuk Turk architecture, with additional influences from Byzantine, Persian, and Islamic Mamluk traditions.

Sultan Mehmed 2 would later fuse European traditions in his rebuilding programs at Istanbul in the 19th century. Byzantine styles as seen in the Hagia Sophia served as particularly of import models for Ottoman mosques, such as the mosque synthetic by Sinan.

Edifice reached its elevation in the 16th century when Ottoman architects mastered the technique of building vast inner spaces surmounted past seemingly weightless withal incredibly massive domes , and achieved perfect harmony between inner and outer spaces, likewise as articulated calorie-free and shadow.

They incorporated vaults , domes, square dome plans, slender corner minarets, and columns into their mosques, which became sanctuaries of transcendently aesthetic and technical rest, as may be observed in the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey.

The Blue Mosque, Istanbul, Turkey: The Blue Mosque represents the culmination of Ottoman construction with its numerous domes, slender minarets and overall harmony.

Architecture flourished in the Safavid Dynasty , attaining a high point with the edifice program of Shah Abbas in Isfahan, which included numerous gardens, palaces (such as Ali Qapu), an immense bazaar, and a big purple mosque. Isfahan, the capital  of both the Seljuk and Safavid dynasties, bears the most prominent samples of the Safavid architecture, such as the the Imperial Mosque, which was constructed in the years subsequently Shah Abbas I permanently moved the capital there in 1598.

Majestic Mosque, Isfahan, Iran: Isfahan, the capital of both the Seljuk and Safavid dynasties, bears the most prominent samples of the Safavid compages.

Islamic Glass Making

Glassmaking was the most important Islamic luxury art of the early on Middle Ages.

Learning Objectives

Describe the fine art of Islamic glass

Key Takeaways

Cardinal Points

• Betwixt the 8th and early on 11th centuries, the accent in luxury glass was on effects achieved past manipulating the surface of the glass, initially by incising into the glass on a bicycle, and later by cutting away the background to leave a design in relief .
• Lustre painting uses techniques similar to lustreware in pottery and dates back to the 8th century in Egypt; information technology became widespread in the 12th century.

Central Terms

• luxury arts: Highly decorative goods made of precious materials for the wealthy classes.
• glassmaking: The craft or manufacture of producing glass.

Islamic Glass

For about of the Eye Ages , Islamic luxury glass was the about sophisticated in Eurasia , exported to both Europe and Communist china. Islam took over much of the traditional glass-producing territory of Sassanian and Ancient Roman glass. Since figurative ornament played a small part in pre-Islamic glass, the modify in style was not abrupt—except that the whole expanse initially formed a political whole, and, for example, Persian innovations were at present almost immediately taken up in Egypt.

For this reason it is often impossible to distinguish between the various centers of production (of which Egypt, Syria, and Persia were the most important), except by scientific analysis of the fabric, which itself has difficulties. From various documentary references, glassmaking and glass-trading seems to have been a specialty of the Jewish minority.

Betwixt the 8th and early 11th centuries, the emphasis in luxury glass was on effects achieved past manipulating the surface of the glass, initially by incising into the glass on a wheel, and later on past cutting away the background to leave a design in relief. The very massive Hedwig glasses, only found in Europe, but unremarkably considered Islamic (or possibly from Muslim craftsmen in Norman Sicily), are an example of this, though they are puzzlingly late in date.

These and other drinking glass pieces probably represented cheaper versions of vessels of carved rock crystal (clear quartz)—themselves influenced by earlier glass vessels—and there is some bear witness that at this period glass and hard-rock cut were regarded as the aforementioned craft. From the 12th century, the drinking glass industry in Persia and Mesopotamia declined, and the main production of luxury glass shifted to Egypt and Syrian arab republic. Throughout this period, local centers made simpler wares, such every bit Hebron glass in Palestine.

The Luck of Edenhall: This is a 13th-century Syrian beaker, in England since the Eye Ages. For most of the Center Ages, Islamic glass was the about sophisticated in Eurasia, exported to both Europe and Mainland china.

Lustre painting

Lustre painting, past techniques similar to lustreware in pottery, dates dorsum to the 8th century in Egypt, and involves the awarding of metallic pigments during the drinking glass-making process. Another technique used past artisans was ornamentation with threads of glass of a dissimilar colour, worked into the main surface, and sometimes manipulated by combing and other effects.

Gold, painted, and enameled glass were added to the repertoire, as were shapes and motifs borrowed from other media , such as pottery and metalwork . Some of the finest work was in mosque lamps donated by a ruler or wealthy homo.

Equally ornamentation grew more than elaborate, the quality of the basic drinking glass decreased, and it often exhibited bubbling and a brownish-yellow tinge. Aleppo ceased to be a major center afterward the Mongol invasion of 1260, and Timur appears to take concluded the Syrian glass manufacture around 1400 by carrying off the skilled workers to Samarkand. Past about 1500, the Venetians were receiving large orders for mosque lamps.

Some of the finest work was in mosque lamps donated past a ruler or wealthy man. As ornamentation grew more elaborate, the quality of the basic glass decreased, and it often exhibited bubbles and a brownish-yellow tinge. Aleppo ceased to be a major middle after the Mongol invasion of 1260, and Timur appears to have ended the Syrian industry around 1400 by carrying off the skilled workers to Samarkand. By about 1500, the Venetians were receiving large orders for mosque lamps.

Mosque lamp: Produced in Egypt, c. 1360.

Islamic Calligraphy

Calligraphic blueprint was omnipresent in Islamic fine art in the Middle Ages, and is seen in all types of fine art including architecture and the decorative arts.

Learning Objectives

Explain the purpose and characteristics of Islamic calligraphy

Central Takeaways

Primal Points

• In a faith where figural representations are considered an act of idolatry , it is no surprise that the word and its artistic representation became an of import aspect in Islamic fine art.
• The primeval form of Arabic calligraphy is Kufic script .
• Also Quranic verses, other inscriptions include verses of poesy, and inscriptions recording buying or donation.

Key Terms

• Kufic script: The earliest form of Standard arabic calligraphy, noted for its athwart form.
• calligraphy: The art of writing letters and words with decorative strokes.

In a faith where figural representations are considered an deed of idolatry, it is no surprise that  the word and its artistic representation became an important attribute in Islamic art. The almost important religious text in Islam is the Quran, which is believed to exist the word of God. There are many examples of calligraphy and calligraphic inscriptions pertaining to verses from the Quran in Islamic arts.

ninth century Quran: This early Quran demonstrates the Kufic script, noted for its angular form and equally the earliest form of Standard arabic calligraphy .

The earliest form of Arabic calligraphy is Kufic script, which is noted for its angular form.  Arabic is read from right to left and merely the consonants are written.  The black ink in the epitome in a higher place from a 9th century Quran marks the consonants for the reader.  The red dots that are visible on the page note the vowels.

However, calligraphic blueprint is not limited to the book in Islamic art. Calligraphy is found in several different types of art, such as architecture. The interior of the Dome of the Stone (Jerusalem, circa 691), for example, features calligraphic inscriptions of verses from the Quran as well as from additional sources. As in Europe in the Middle Ages , religious exhortations such every bit Quranic verses may be included in secular objects, specially coins, tiles, and metalwork .

Interior view of the Dome of the Rock: The interior of The Dome of the Rock features many calligraphic inscriptions, from both the Quran and other sources; information technology demonstrates the importance of calligraphy in Islamic art and its utilize in several different media.

Calligraphic inscriptions were non exclusive to the Quran, just also included verses of poesy or recorded ownership or donation. Calligraphers were highly regarded in Islam, which reinforces the importance of the word and its religious and artistic significance.

Islamic Book Painting

Manuscript painting in the tardily medieval Islamic world reached its tiptop in Persia, Syrian arab republic, Republic of iraq, and the Ottoman Empire.

Learning Objectives

Discuss the origin and evolution of Islamic manuscript painting

Key Takeaways

Key Points

• The art of the Farsi volume was born under the Ilkhanid dynasty and encouraged by the patronage of aristocrats for large illuminated manuscripts .
• Islamic manuscript painting witnessed its first golden age in the 13th century when information technology was influenced by the Byzantine visual vocabulary and combined with Mongol facial types from twelfth-century book frontispieces.
• Under the rule of the Safavids in Iran (1501 to 1786), the art of manuscript illumination achieves new heights, in particular in the Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp, an immense copy of Ferdowsi'south epic poem that contains more than than 250 paintings.
• The medieval Islamic texts called Maqamat were some of the primeval coffee-tabular array books and among the outset Islamic art to mirror daily life.
• Masterpieces of Ottoman manuscript illustration include the two books of festivals, ane from the end of the 16th century and the other from the era of Sultan Murad Iii.

Key Terms

• Mongols: An umbrella term for a big group of Mongolic and Turkic tribes united under the rule of Genghis Khan in the 13th century.
• illuminated manuscripts: A book in which the text is supplemented past the improver of decoration, such as decorated initials, borders (marginalia), and miniature illustrations.
• miniature: An illustration in an ancient or medieval illuminated manuscript.
• muraqqa: An album in book form containing Islamic miniature paintings and specimens of Islamic calligraphy, commonly from several dissimilar sources, and peradventure other matter.
• Maqamat: The plural for Maqāma, an Arabic literary genre of rhymed prose with intervals of poetry that ofttimes ruminates on spiritual topics.

Islamic Book Painting

Book painting in the belatedly medieval Islamic earth reached its height in Persia, Syria, Iraq, and the Ottoman Empire . The art form blossomed across the dissimilar regions and was inspired by a range of cultural reference points.

The evolution of book painting first began in the 13th century, when the Mongols, under the leadership of Genghis Khan, swept through the Islamic world. Upon the expiry of Genghis Khan, his empire was divided among his sons and dynasties formed: the Yuan in China, the Ilkhanids in Iran, and the Gilded Horde in northern Islamic republic of iran and southern Russia.

The Ilkhanids

The Ilkhanids were a rich civilization that developed under the little khans in Iran. Architectural activeness intensified as the Mongols became sedentary yet retained traces of their nomadic origins, such as the north–south orientation of buildings. Farsi, Islamic, and East Asian traditions melded together during this menstruum and a process of Iranization took place, in which construction co-ordinate to previously established types, such as the Iranian-plan mosques , was resumed.

The art of the Persian book was born under the Ilkhanid dynasty and encouraged by the patronage of aristocrats for large illuminated manuscripts, such as the Jami' al-tawarikh past Rashid-al-Din Hamadani. Islamic book painting witnessed its first aureate historic period in the 13th century, mostly inside Syrian arab republic and Iraq.

Miniatures

The tradition of the Farsi miniature (a small painting on newspaper) developed during this period, and it strongly influenced the Ottoman miniature of Turkey and the Mughal miniature in India. Considering illuminated manuscripts were an art of the court, and not seen in public, constraints on the depiction of the man effigy were much more relaxed and the human form is represented with frequency within this medium.

Influence from the Byzantine visual vocabulary (blue and aureate coloring, angelic and victorious motifs, symbology of mantle) was combined with Mongol facial types seen in 12th-century book frontispieces. Chinese influences in Islamic book painting include the early adoption of the vertical format natural to a book. Motifs such every bit peonies, clouds, dragons, and phoenixes were adjusted from China as well, and incorporated into manuscript illumination.

Mongol soldiers, in Jami al-tawarikh by Rashid-al-Din Hamadani: The Jāmi al-tawārīkh is a piece of work of literature and history, produced past the Mongol Ilkhanate in Persia. The breadth of the work has caused information technology to exist called the first earth history and its lavish illustrations and calligraphy required the efforts of hundreds of scribes and artists.

The largest commissions of illustrated books were usually classics of Persian poesy, such as the Shahnameh. Nether the rule of the Safavids in Iran (1501 to 1786), the fine art of manuscript illumination achieved new heights. The most noteworthy instance of this is the Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp, an immense copy of Ferdowsi's epic verse form that contains more than 250 paintings.

The Court of Gayumars, from the Shahnameh of Shah Tahmasp: Illuminated manuscripts of the Shahnameh were often commissioned past royal patrons.

Maqamat and Albums

The medieval Islamic texts called Maqamat that were copied and illustrated by Yahya ibn Mahmud al-Wasiti, were some of the earliest java-table books. They were among the first texts in Islamic art to hold a mirror to daily life, portraying humorous stories and showing little adherence to prior pictorial traditions.

In the 17th century a new type of painting developed based around the anthology (muraqqa). The albums were the creations of connoisseurs who spring together unmarried sheets of paintings, drawings, or calligraphy past various artists; they were sometimes excised from earlier books and other times created every bit independent works.

The paintings of Reza Abbasi figure largely in this new form of book art. The course depicts one or 2 larger figures, typically idealized beauties in a garden setting, and often use the grisaille techniques previously used for background edge paintings .

Mughal and Ottoman Manuscripts

The Mughals and Ottomans both produced lavish manuscripts of more recent history with the autobiographies of the Mughal emperors and purely armed forces chronicles of Turkish conquests. Portraits of rulers developed in the 16th century, and later in Persia, where they became very popular.

Mughal portraits, normally in contour, are very finely drawn in a realist style , while the best Ottoman ones are vigorously stylized . Anthology miniatures typically featured picnic scenes, portraits of individuals, or (in Bharat especially) animals, or arcadian youthful beauties of either sex.

Masterpieces of Ottoman manuscript illustration include the ii books of festivals, ane from the end of the 16th century and the other from the era of Sultan Murad III. These books contain numerous illustrations and exhibit a strong Safavid influence, perhaps inspired by books captured in the grade of the Ottoman–Safavid wars of the 16th century.

Islamic Ceramics

Islamic fine art has notable achievements in ceramics that reached heights unmatched past other cultures.

Learning Objectives

Hash out how developments such every bit tin can-opacified glazing and stonepaste ceramics fabricated Islamic ceramics some of the nearly advanced of its time

Key Takeaways

Cardinal Points

• The first Islamic opaque glazes date to around the 8th century, and another significant contribution was the development of stonepaste ceramics in 9th century Republic of iraq.
• Lusterwares with iridescent colors were either invented or considerably developed in Persia and Syria from the 9th century onward.
• The techniques, shapes, and decorative motifs of Chinese ceramics were admired and emulated by Islamic potters, particularly later the Mongol and Timurid invasions.
• The Hispano–Moresque style emerged in the 8th century, with more refined production happening later, presumably by Muslim potters working in areas reconquered by Christian kingdoms.

Key Terms

• Hispano–Moresque style: A manner of Islamic pottery created in Al-Andaluz, or Muslim Spain, which continued to be produced nether Christian dominion in styles that blended Islamic and European elements.
• lusterware: A type of pottery or porcelain having an iridescent metallic glaze.
• coat: The vitreous coating of pottery or porcelain, or a transparent or semi-transparent layer of paint.
• ceramics: Inorganic, nonmetallic solids created by the action of oestrus and their subsequent cooling. Most common ceramics are crystalline and the earliest uses of ceramics were in pottery.

Islamic Ceramics

Islamic art has notable achievements in ceramics, both in pottery and tiles for buildings, which reached heights unmatched past other cultures . Early pottery had normally been unglazed, but a tin can-opacified glazing technique was developed by Islamic potters. The first Islamic opaque glazes can be found every bit bluish-painted ware in Basra, dating to around the 8th century.

Another pregnant contribution was the development of stonepaste ceramics, originating from 9th century Iraq. The get-go industrial circuitous for glass and pottery production was built in Ar-Raqqah, Syrian arab republic, in the 8th century. Other centers for innovative pottery in the Islamic globe included Fustat (from 975 to 1075), Damascus (from 1100 to around 1600), and Tabriz (from 1470 to 1550).

Lusterware

Lusterware is a blazon of pottery or porcelain that has an irised metallic coat. Luster first began equally a painting technique in glassmaking , which was then translated to pottery in Mesopotamia in the ninth century.

10th century dish: Islamic art has very notable achievements in ceramics, both in pottery and tiles for walls, which reached heights unmatched by other cultures. This dish is from East Persia or Cardinal Asia.

The techniques, shapes, and decorative motifs of Chinese ceramics were admired and emulated by Islamic potters, specially after the Mongol and Timurid invasions. Until the Early Modern period, Western ceramics had little influence, merely Islamic pottery was highly sought later in Europe, and was often copied.

An case of this is the albarello, a type of earthenware jar originally designed to hold apothecary ointments and dry drugs. The development of this type of pharmacy jar had its roots in the Islamic Middle East. Hispano–Moresque examples were exported to Italy, inspiring the earliest Italian examples, from 15th century Florence.

Hispano–Moresque Fashion

The Hispano–Moresque fashion emerged in Al-Andaluz, or Muslim Espana, in the eighth century, under Egyptian influence. More refined production happened much afterward, presumably by Muslim potters who worked in the areas reconquered by the Christian kingdoms.

The Hispano–Moresque style mixed Islamic and European elements in its designs and was exported to neighboring European countries. The style introduced two ceramic techniques to Europe:

1. Glazing with an opaque white tin-glaze.
2. Painting in metallic lusters.

Ottoman Iznik pottery produced most of the finest ceramics of the 16th century—tiles and large vessels boldly busy with floral motifs that were influenced past Chinese Yuan and Ming ceramics. These were however in earthenware, since porcelain was non fabricated in Islamic countries until modern times.

The medieval Islamic world also painted pottery with creature and human being imagery . Examples are establish throughout the medieval Islamic globe, particularly in Persia and Egypt.

Islamic Textiles

The well-nigh important textile produced in the Medieval and Early Modernistic Islamic Empires was the rug.

Learning Objectives

Hash out the making and designs of Islamic textiles

Key Takeaways

Key Points

• The production and trade of textiles pre-dates Islam , and had long been important to Middle Eastern cultures and cities, many of which flourished due to the Silk Road .
• When the Islamic dynasties formed and grew more powerful they gained control over textile product in the region, which was arguably the most important craft of the era.

Fundamental Terms

• textile arts: The production of arts and crafts that use plant, animal, or constructed fibers to create objects.

Islam and the Textile Arts

The textile arts refer to the product of arts and crafts that use constitute, animal, or synthetic fibers to create objects. These objects tin be for everyday apply, or they tin can be decorative and luxury items. The production and trade of textiles pre-dates Islam, and had long been important to Eye Eastern cultures and cities, many of which flourished due to the Silk Route.

When the Islamic dynasties formed and grew more powerful they gained control over textile production in the region, which was arguably the most of import craft of the era. The most important textile produced in Medieval and Early Modern Islamic Empires was the carpet.

The Ottoman Empire and Carpeting Production

The art of carpet weaving was especially of import in the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman state was founded by Turkish tribes in northwestern Anatolia in 1299 and became an empire in 1453 after the momentous conquest of Constantinople.

Stretching across Asia, Europe, and Africa, the Empire was vast and long lived, lasting until 1922 when the monarchy was abolished in Turkey. Within the Ottoman Empire, carpets were immensely valued as decorative furnishings and for their practical value . They were used not only on floors simply also equally wall and door hangings, where they provided additional insulation.

These intricately knotted carpets were made of silk, or a combination of silk and cotton, and were ofttimes rich in religious and other symbolism. Hereke silk carpets, which were fabricated in the littoral town of Hereke, were the about valued of the Ottoman carpets considering of their fine weave. The Hereke carpets were typically used to furnish royal palaces.

Carpet and interior of the Harem room in Topkapi Palace, Istanbul: The Ottoman Turks were famed for the quality of their finely woven and intricately knotted silk carpets.

Persian Carpets

The Iranian Safavid Empire (1501–1786) is distinguished from the Mughal and Ottoman dynasties by the Shia religion of its shahs, which was the majority Islamic denomination in Persia. Safavid art is contributed to several aesthetic traditions, particularly to the fabric arts.

In the sixteenth century, carpet weaving evolved from a nomadic and peasant craft to a well-executed industry that used specialized design and manufacturing techniques on quality fibers such as silk. The carpets of Ardabil, for example, were commissioned to commemorate the Safavid dynasty and are now considered to exist the best examples of classical Persian weaving, especially for their use of graphical perspective.

Textiles became a large export, and Persian weaving became i of the nearly popular imported appurtenances of Europe. Islamic carpets were a luxury item in Europe and at that place are several examples of European Renaissance paintings that document the presence of Islamic textiles in European homes during that time.

The Ardabil Carpet, Persia, 1540: The Ardabil Carpet is the finest example of 16th century Persian carpet production.

Indonesian Batik

Islamic textile production, however, was not limited to the carpet. Majestic factories were founded for the purpose of textile production that also included cloth and garments.

The development and refinement of Indonesian batik fabric was closely linked to Islam. The Islamic prohibition on certain images encouraged batik design to become more than abstract and intricate. Realistic depictions of animals and humans are rare on traditional batik, but serpents, puppet-shaped humans, and the Garuda of pre-Islamic mythology are all commonplace.

Although its being in Indonesia pre-dates Islam, batik reached its high point in the regal Muslim courts, such as Mataram and Yogyakarta, whose Muslim rulers encouraged and patronized batik production. Today, batik has undergone a revival, and cloths are used for other purposes as well wearing, such as wrapping the Quran.

Javanese court batik: The evolution and refinement of Indonesian batik cloth was closely linked to Islam.

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Source: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-arthistory/chapter/introduction-to-islamic-art/

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