Product Description
In this comprehensive survey, the authors highlight those characteristics that connect the various arts of all the Islamic lands, without minimizing the differences. Dividing the time into three periods: 600-900, 900-1500 and 1500-1800, they set the artistic development in each era within its historical context and use art as a window into Islamic culture. Written in a lively and accessible style, and illustrated throughout with photographs, maps and plans, the book captures the essence of Islamic culture as expressed in its buildings, books and applied arts, and provides an essential introduction to the subject for both the student and the general reader. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Wonderful introduction
This is a basic introduction on a very large and complex history. Broken up chronologically and further by dynasty, the structure of this book lends a coherence that is very easy to understand. It is a wonderful way to gain a greater understanding of Islamic art and how its influences have shaped art history.

A Fine Survey
Blair and Bloom do a great job explaining classic Islamic arts. They give equal attention to architecture, calligraphy, weaving and decorative arts, and suplement their accessible yet intelligent text with attractive photographs. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to begin learning about Islamic art, as well as to those who already know the basics.

Excellant coverage of the Islamic arts
The second book I read on Islamic Art. Was very impressed. It's very comprehensive and well organized. Starts coverage in chronological order (from the start of the Islamic empire) and covers Architecture, Calligraphy/Book art, Paintings, Ceramics and Textiles for every major Muslim Empire(Spain to India inclusive) from 560AD to the fall of the last great Muslim empire-the Ottomans in modern times. The pictures are great and complement the subject matter well.

A Fine Survey
Blair and Bloom do a great job explaining classic Islamic arts.They give equal attention to architecture, calligraphy, weaving and decorative arts, and suplement their accessible yet intelligent text with attractive photographs.I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to begin learning about Islamic art, as well as to those who already know the basics. ... Read more

Product Description
Covering one thousand years of history and an area stretching from the Atlantic to the borders of India and China, Robert Hillenbrand incorporates all the latest discoveries and interpretations in this authoritative guide to the arts of Islam. From the supreme confidence of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem to the scores of exquisite buildings of Ottoman Istanbul; from the extraordinary virtuosity of Persian painting in the fifteenth century to the vivid ceramic tradition of Ottoman Iznik--Hillenbrand does justice to both the highlights and the ongoing evolution of the full range of Islamic arts.Supported by a glossary of Islamic terms, a time line, and maps, this book traces the architecture, calligraphy, book illumination, painting, ceramics, textiles, and metalwork of a vastly accomplished and influential civilization. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Textbook for college course
Bought this book for my husband who was taking an Islamic Art and Architecture class.It was a useful resource for the course, knowledgeably researched and written.

We purchased a used copy that arrived quickly and in excellent condition.

Would recommend based on content, quality and service.

No chapter on the Mughals
This book provides a very good account of Islamic art through the ages. However, one of the 'golden' eras of Islamic art and architecture, the Mughal era, has not been treated sufficiently -- it's only been treated tangentially. The Mughals ruled the Indian Subcontinent and adjacent areas for about 500 years, and combined Persian, Arabic, Indian and other styles in a brilliant system of arts. A chapter on them would pretty much complete the book.

Good Book
Bought this book for my daughters Art class.It had all the information she needed.As alway amazon delivered quickly, with no delays.

Good Indepth Introduction
As a beginner to the world of Islamic Art and architecture, I recently completed reading this book and found it a good introduction. It covers the development and major themes in architecture, ceramics, figure painting and calligraphy (textiles to a smaller extent) of Ummayyad, Abbasid, Fatimid, Saljuq, Atabegs, Mamluks, Islamic Spain and Morrocco, Ilkhanids/Timurids, Safavids and the Ottomans.

Islamic art and architecture of the Indian Subcontinent (eg Dehli Sultanate or Mughal India) is not covered at all in this book.

It has a good sampling of pictures in colour of especially major architectural monuments. I think the strength of this book is especially strong as an introduction to Islamic architecture.Its coverage of the other areas is not bad either.

Absolutely Divine
This book has an unbilievable combination of detail, broad coverage of various topics, ability to keep attention concentrated due to a great waythe book is written. Illustrations were both artistically beautiful andhelpful in understanding the topics covered. I am in love with this bookand, after library reading it, I am ordering it today!!! ... Read more

Product Description
This opulent volume of works
from illustrated and illuminated
manuscripts culled from important public and private collections offers a thorough introduction to the wonders of Islamic art.

A renowned scholar of Islamic art, history and culture, Oleg Grabar introduces in this book a wide range of illuminated manuscript masterpieces from the eighth to the seventeenth century. The heroes of grand epics such as Alexander the Great are found side-by-side with mythical monarchs, sultans, and even monsters. Illuminated manuscripts of the Koran, epic poetry, and scientific works from the Egyptian, Syrian, Persian, Mogul, and Ottoman Empires await discovery. The book opens with an essay which contextualizes the works-the originals of which reside in the Louvre, French National Library, National Library of Cairo, the British Library, Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Topkapi Museum, the Freer Gallery of Art and the collections of the Aga Khan and Khalili families. Following is a selection of two hundred full-color illustrations accompanied by the author's insightful commentary. Including examples of some of the world's most beautiful artistic expressions, this collection of carefully chosen works not only illustrates an important period in art history but also serves as a monument to the achievements of Islamic culture. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Reproductions could be better.
The text of this book is by Oleg Grabar, a noted scholar of Islamic art, and is very accessible, if brief.

The colors of the illustrations are bright and bold, perhaps too bright and bold compared to other reproductions I've seen.Also, the colors are somewhat different in this book's reproductions.

At least two paintings (pages 26 and 129) are reproduced in mirror image, which is easy to see as text on the paintings is reversed.It's not Prof. Grabar's fault, as his description of the image on page 129 refers to the figure "on the right," which appears on the left in the reversed image.

The book is still beautiful, but these errors are frustrating. ... Read more

Product Description

Intricate, elaborate, and colorful, Islamic art produced in medieval Spain has had a lasting influence on Western decorative art. This fascinating book, lavishly illustrated with objects drawn from the V&A’s collections, includes exquisite ivory caskets, including stunning Byzantine works, marble tombstones and capitals, architectural models, jewelry, textiles, ceramics, and also examines the late 19th-century craze for the "Alhambresque" style promoted by English designer Owen Jones, the work of Antoni Gaudi, and much more.

Islamic Arts from Spain addresses the creation, suppression, rediscovery, and influence of Islamic art in Spain from the 8th to the 20th century . It looks first at patronage during the "Golden Age" of the Umayyad caliphate, from the mid-10th to the early 11th century, before discussing the Nasrid dynasty, who ruled from Granada while Christian monarchs were reemerging in northern Spain. The book also explores the phenomenon of the "Mudéjar," Islamic-influenced arts produced under non-Muslim patrons in the Renaissance.  

Customer Reviews (1)

A slice of Islamic history
It's tough to overestimate the influence of Islamic artistic culture on Spain and thus much of the western world. In "Islamic Arts From Spain," we get an intellectual and careful look at how first the sovereigns of the Ummayad caliphate (mid-10th Century to early 11th) and later rulers fostered the development of decorative arts, ceramics, architecture and ornaments that continues to be evident today. Using the many treasures found in the huge collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, author Mariam Rosser-Owen surveys the various movements and influences from different sources and their results, among them, the Mudejar movement, the Islamic-inflected artistic culture developed by non-Muslims.

In these pages, we see photos of carpets, textiles, intricately carved casks, water colors, ivory caskets, maps, carvings, porcelains, buildings,and much more, showing the tremendous and widespread impact of the Moors' rule and ultimate capitulation to Christian kings. It's easy to forget how close the days of Christopher Columbus' voyage and the end of the Moorish kings were to each other on the calendar. But through artwork of the period, we see the Christians celebrating their victories, even as their work resembled that of the just-vanquished Muslims.

This is an excellent overview of a piece of art history for people new to the topic or those more familiar with the subject who want get a close up look at some wonderful treasures. ... Read more

Product Description
This richly illustrated book provides an unsurpassed overview of Islamic art and architecture during a time that witnessed the formation of a new artistic culture and its first, medieval, flowering in the vast area from the Atlantic to India. Inspired by Ettinghausen and Grabar's original text, this book has been completely rewritten and updated, and many new illustrations have been added. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Islamic Art
This book contains the 'nut shell' of Islamic Art and Architecture.There are some plans, and many color photographs.Each project is accompanied by text explaining it and it's cultural significance.For someone who has an interest in the geometries and forms of Islamic Art this book was worth it. ... Read more

Product Description
Turquoise and marble cupolas, arches adorned with flowers and arabesques, motionless basins reflecting slender minarets, sparkling enamels of floral bouquets, miniatures populated by lovers stretched out in the shade—all these form part of the luxury decoration, refinement, and high spirituality that we define as "Persian style."

This subtle art is revealed in magical locations such as Isfahan, rich in mosques and palaces; Bukhara and Samarkand with their shining domes; Lahore and the gardens of Shalimar; the Red Fort of Delhi, exalted as an earthly paradise; and the miraculous Taj Mahal of Agra. For a thousand years, from the frontiers of Iran to the heart of India, architects, landscape gardeners, calligraphers, miniaturists, and weavers have made their mark on Islamic art and architecture. This lavishly illustrated book examines the sources, analyzes the forms, and discusses the mystic themes and symbolism of the immense heritage handed down by Islamic artists and craftsmen. Over 500 color photographs and illustrations. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Islamic Art and Architecture: From Isfahan to the Taj Mahal
The book portrays Islamic architecture through the ages and throughout the Muslim world in a manner that portrays both it's beauty and the similar features that transcend geography and time.It is particularly enlightening to Westerners who have little exposure to history, the non-Western world, or Islam.

Normal book
I have visited a lot of the countries which have monuments described in this book. I would say that this is normal book for such price. But if someone is interested in one of the cultural centres more deeply I recommend to find something else.

Breathtakingly beautiful!
The author (Mr. Stierlin) is designated as an "art historian". That is true, but far from complete. Judging from this book, he is also an outstanding photographer. Many books of this type are sabotaged by mediocre photography; not this one! If you have an interest in beautiful architecture beyond the shores of America, you should get this book.

A Photographic Journey of Islamic Art and Architecture
A great book for someone searching for some kind of beauty,this book will touch your heart.So sit back and relax and enjoy your journey. ... Read more

Product Description
The transformation of Islamic architecture and ornament during the eleventh and twelfth centuries signaled profound cultural changes in the Islamic world. Yasser Tabbaa explores with exemplary lucidity the geometric techniques that facilitated this transformation, and investigates the cultural processes by which meaning was produced within the new forms. Iran, Iraq, and Syria saw the development of proportional calligraphy, vegetal and geometric arabesque, muqarnas (stalactite) vaulting, and other devices that became defining features of medieval Islamic architecture. Ultimately, the forms and themes described in this book shaped the development of Mamluk architecture in Egypt and Syria, and by extension, the entire course of North African and Andalusian architecture as well.

These innovations developed and were disseminated in a highly charged atmosphere of confrontation between the Seljuk and post-Seljuk proponents of the traditionalist Sunni revival and their main opponents in Fatimid Egypt. These forms stood as visual signs of allegiance to the orthodox Abbasid caliphate and of difference from the heterodox Fatimids. Tabbaa proposes that their rapid spread throughout the Islamic world operated within a system of reciprocating, ceremonial gestures, which conveyed a new and formal language that helped negotiate the gap between the myth of a unified Sunni Islam and its actual political fragmentation.

In subject matter and approach, The Transformation of Islamic Art during the Sunni Revival makes original contributions to the study of art, revealing that this relatively neglected sector of medieval art and architecture is of critical importance for reevaluating the entire field of Islamic studies. It challenges the essentialist and positivist approaches that still permeate the study of Islamic art, and offers a historical and semiotic alternative for exploring meaning within ruptures of change. ... Read more

Product Description
Issam El-Said pinpoints the rules of composition that form the basis of the geometric concepts of Islamic art. He then shows how intricate patterns are based on these basic principles. Fully illustrated in three colors to show the development of the patterns, this book offers an insight into how craftsmen and designers in the Muslim world achieved monumental feats of artistic expression using the simplest of tools.Chapter I presents graphical analyses of numerous complex patterns, to reveal the numerical rationale behind them. In Chapter II, the author analyses the system of measure used in ancient Egypt, before the use of numbers for calculating measurements. He shows how measuring cords and a geometric method based on a grid-pattern originating from the circle were employed by master craftsmen in the design of Islamic art and architecture. The book offers an insight into how craftsmen and designers in the Muslim world have achieved monumental feats of artistic expression with harmony and precision, using the simplest of tools such as a ruler, a string and templates, together with a system of measure that is both simple and sophisticated. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

islamic art & Architecture Geommetric designs
good book but all in black & white don't expect any beautiful photos as examples. the ways they do these designs it is just what you 've got. Mathematics explainations only useful for experts but the drawings speak for themselves happily. Way too expensive, a souple cover and smaller size would have been enough

Deeper understanding of Islamic geometric pattern making
This book reveals the stuctures of Islamic geomtric pattern making. There are quite a few "pattern books" with many examples of beautiful patterns. However this book reveals the concept of "the repeat unit of a geometric pattern" and the principles of measure involved. There are three main repeat units. It also contains many beautiful examples of patterns that can be generated by each repeat unit.

I thoroughly recommend this book for anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of Islamic geometric patterns.

Laith Wark

Shows tile design on Muslim monuments like the Taj Mahal.
If you are interested in high school maths or tiling in general this bookshows how Islamic artists create most of the geometric tiling patternsfound in Muslim monuments such as the Taj Mahal in India or the Alhambra inSpain. Issam shows how using the ancient greek techniques of a compass anda straight edgeall of the tile designs are achieved.He also goes intothe history of how these tile patterns were achieved.This book is writtenafter Issam died from his notes and other previous work and is a summary ofIssam's work so it probably represents the last chance to have these tilepatterns explained.As a maths teacher myself I have never been soimpressed by a book.It not only has great content but its diagrams arebeautiful. ... Read more

Product Description

How do we know Islamic art? What tells us that images and artifacts are products of the Muslim world, a culture that has historically extended from Spain to Southeast Asia and spanned a period from A.D. 622 to our day? This exquisitely and extensively illustrated book allows readers to identify those elements and themes that define art forms as Islamic, and to examine them in works of painting and metalwork, in calligraphy and manuscripts, ceramics, glass, wood, and ivory comprising one of the most imposing collections of arts from across the Muslim world.

Arranged thematically--in chapters focusing on religion and belief, the supernatural and natural worlds, feasting, the hunt, war, music, and power--Islamic Art in Detail provides a much-needed cultural context for these widely varied works while pointing out exceptional features. In its exploration of selected works, the book juxtaposes images of each object with enlarged details--details that might otherwise be virtually invisible to the naked eye--affording surprising comparisons between seemingly unrelated pieces and offering a rare multifaceted view of the art, technique, and iconography of some of the Islamic world's most beautiful images and artifacts.

Customer Reviews (2)

Is this Islamic Art in details?
I had the chance to read this book last week, its nice reading about part of the Islamic Art, still I have few comments about this book that I would like to share with other people interested in this area:

1. Most of the photos in the book for few art production and artifices which doesn't represent the Islamic art in comprehensive manner, and it focuses on specific area of the Isalmic world and even specific era

2. When talking about Islamic geometry the reader get the feeling that this is just another decorative tool, without mentioning any thing about the Islamic sacred geometry, and

3. The reader feels that the book examples are not comprehensive and focuses on central Asia, Persianand Maghoul arts, even though it mentions middle east, north Africa and Andalusia (Spain) but without any examples or photos

4. The book didn't talk about the Islamic Architecture Art at all (maybe this is out of the book scope)

5. The beginning of the book the author talked about wars, struggles and chaos in the Islamic world, the reader feels that the past 1400 years of the Islamic nation history was all in chaos, yes I agree there were wars and times of instability still history talks about long time for peace (at least internally within the Islamic state) otherwise why do we find all this heritage of art and culture within the Islamic history

6. When talking about human paintings, the book talked about contradiction in Prophet Mohammad Sayings (Hadeeth) about this issue, I don't believe that this is accurate and depends on the accuracy about the Prophet Sayings the author refers to, the author didn't document these sayings so we need first to get the sayings, validate all and ensure it's the prophet sayings in addition to find the correct interpretation of all.

7. Ali is not the founder of Shi'a, this political (or religion) path appeared after Ali death

8. The book talked about the dome of Rock, I believe it will be good addition if photos for the Dome are added to the book

9. Islam don't see itself as about its superior of Christianity and value the holy family

10. The christen existence was not only due to crusades, mainly it was because Islam didn't mind living together with Christianity

11. Astrology is forbidden in Islam so even if it exists in some art work it shouldn't be considered as Islamic art (and this returns us to the definition of Islam and Muslims) not all production of Muslims is related to Islam some are the results of their previous history and heritage before Islam, so its more related to other cultures than to Islam

12. Kalila and Dimnah is not an Arabic or Islamic production its Indian book translated to Persian and then to Arabic

13. Sura at the Qur'an is not a chapter since Qur'an is divided into 30 Chapters and includes 114 Sura some chapters contains more than one Sura and some times one long Sura takes several chapters

FABULOUS COLOR PLATES
You would not expect the beautiful, color, and large-sized plates of Islamic art found in this slim book. The calligraphy is enlarged, symbols are explained. You will not be disappointed with this book if you want it as a coffee-table book or as a book for research into the details of Islamic art. Great textbook for a class on the introduction to Islamic art. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (5)

Interesting book, but...
This book gives an interesting taste of Islamic design, but it is not clear what the author intended to accomplish. The subtitle is "A genius for geometry," and the book does show some designs that are both geometrically cleaver and very beautiful. But the book consists of a series of very short chapters that have little or no continuity, and I would be surprised to find anyone has succeeded in reading the book through from beginning to end. There is little said about the historical development of these designs within Islamic tradition, and nothing at all informing readers that Islamic design developed from earlier Roman (Pagan), and Byzantine (Christian) sources. Readers hoping to learn how to actually draw these, or similar, designs will almost certainly need the help of other books.

Happy Husband
My husband had this on his wish list, and I got it for him for his birthday. So far he is really enjoying it!

Practically Perfect in Every Way
I first encountered the Wooden Books series in a little bookshop in New Orleans' Garden District. Their small size were the perfect juxtaposition to their weighty (sometimes arcane) subjects. I was hooked immediately. Not every Wooden Book lives up to the series' promise, but Islamic Design certainly does -- a worthy addition to any collection.

great little books
I just recommend, not only about this book, but all the books from this publisher, they are a delight.

An interesting book
I haven't looked at it in too much detail but it has plenty of cool, trippy looking geometrical patterns. It actually shows you how to make all these patterns as well. Nice. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (1)

wonderful introduction to the art of Qur'anic calligraphy
"Writing the Word of God: Calligraphy and the Qur'an" is one of two museum catalogues published in 2007 to accompany the exhibition of Islamic calligraphy and the tools used by Islamic calligraphers.These exhibitions were first shown at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, were then at the Asia Society in New York, and can currently be seen through early December 2010 at Emory University's Carlos Museum in Atlanta.

Both catalogues were written by the distinguished Harvard scholar David Roxburgh, and each benefits from his erudition and lucid writing style."Writing the Word of God" presents Qur'an pages that cover the period from the mid-7th century to the early 15th century.The countries represented in the selection range from Iran, Iraq, and Central Asia in the east, through the Near East, and, finally, the Maghreb (that portion of North Africa that includes Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria) and southern Spain in the west.Several stories are embedded in Roxburgh's text: the increasing formalization and attention to style seen in the evolution of Qur'anic calligraphy styles; the emphasis on lineage-like connections among calligraphers; and the changing geographical loci of innovation in calligraphy styes, especially from the 10th century onwards.Technology change, especially the transition from the use of parchment to the use of paper as the main writing support, is another fascinating theme.

As those of us associated with Emory's Carlos Museum are rapidly discovering, Islamic calligraphy provides a most attractive and accessible window for beginning to learn about Islamic history.To more fully appreciate how these calligraphic traditions evolved after the early 15th century, you may wish to pick up the companion catalogue called "Traces of the Calligrapher" which looks at the work of 18th and 19th-century Islamic calligraphers in Iran and Turkey and the tools that they used. ... Read more

Product Description
This gorgeous survey of art from
the Islamic world covers three
continents and fourteen centuries. From its birth in the seventh century through modern times,
the Islamic religion has inspired glorious works of art. This
stunning book includes more than four hundred reproductions
of treasures of Islamic art that span the world: from southern
Europe, along the entire Mediterranean basin to sub-Saharan
Africa through the Middle East, India, and Central Asia.
Arranged geographically, the objects include paintings,
miniatures, ceramics, calligraphy, textiles, carpets, and metal
works. Each region is given a thorough introduction that offers
historical context and extensive descriptions of its artifacts.
Accompanying essays offer guidance in interpreting the many
themes that tie these works together, including typology,
calligraphy, and religious beliefs. Despite its wide-ranging
history and origins, Islamic art is unified by its devotion to faith
and beauty. With its large format, exquisite reproductions and
extensive research, this book is a thorough introduction to an
artistic tradition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent Presentation of Islamic Art & Architecture
This book is gorgeous and well-written.It actually covers Islamic architecture more than it does Islamic art, but of course architecture is often art, and certainly many of the beautiful buildings portrayed in this book are.

The presentation is simple - large, clear photographs on white pages - with thoughtful descriptions of the photographs, as well as chapters of text describing different periods and regions.The book includes many works that are not normally seen by western eyes - those that exist in Iran, Iraq, and other countries that we don't tend to visit.The works chosen are often stunning.

I'd recommend this book to those interested in art, architecture, and history.Your eyes will be opened to some of man's amazing creations. ... Read more

Product Description
Virtually all the masterpieces of Islamic art-the Alhambra, the Taj Mahal, and the Tahmasp Shahnama-were produced during the period from the Mongol conquests in the early thirteenth century to the advent of European colonial rule in the nineteenth. This lavishly illustrated book surveys the architecture and arts of the traditional Islamic lands during this era. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Islamic Buyer
Came in time for my class. looks nice and new.Thanks for the book!

GORGEOUS ISLAM
Simply a spectacular book.The text is fascinating and the images are first rate.The art and architecture of Islam is elegant and beautiful, obviously when you think of Islamic Architecuture of this period you think of the Taj Mahal, which of course, is one of the most spectacular buildings in the world, but there are so many others.This book will make you really appreciate the Architectuere and Art of this wonderful religion.Highly recommended.

Un libro che permette di vedere l'altro volto dell'Islam
Testo fondamentale nello studio dell'arte islamica e in grado di mostrare anche ai meno esperti i tesori di un mondo troppo a lungo sconosciuto in occidente. ... Read more

Product Description

From the Alhambra to the Taj Mahal, from the Dome of the Rock to the ever evolving art of calligraphy, Barbara Brend traces the development of classic Islamic art from the seventh through the twentieth century.

The term "Islamic art" suggests a unity of style and purpose, and these works are in fact instantly recognizable for their subtlety of line and sumptuous detail. The Islamic world--from Arabia to North Africa and Spain, from Turkey to Central Asia and India--has a shared cultural heritage of extraordinary richness. Yet it is a common tradition that divides into a diversity of styles. So Brend narrates this history region by region, illustrating her discussion with superb examples drawn from all areas in which Muslim artists and craftsmen have excelled--mosque and palace architecture; the art of the book (calligraphy, painting, and bindings); and the decorative arts, including metalwork, carvings, mosaics, pottery, textiles, and carpets. Throughout, the author elucidates forms, aesthetic principles, themes, and imagery. And she points to sources and influences in the different periods--for example, the prominence of jade and chinoiserie after the Mongol invasion. In Islamic Art Brend expertly guides us through the splendors and delicacies of this classic tradition.

Product Description
In both classical Islamic art and contemporary new media art, one point can unfold to reveal an entire universe. A fourteenth-century dome decorated with geometric complexity and a new media work that shapes a dome from programmed beams of light: both can inspire feelings of immersion and transcendence. In Enfoldment and Infinity, Laura Marks traces the strong similarities, visual and philosophical, between these two kinds of art. Her argument is more than metaphorical; she shows that the “Islamic” quality of modern and new media art is a latent, deeply enfolded, historical inheritance from Islamic art and thought.

Marks proposes an aesthetics of unfolding and enfolding in which image, information, and the infinite interact: image is an interface to information, and information (such as computer code or the words of the Qur’an) is an interface to the infinite. After demonstrating historically how Islamic aesthetics traveled into Western art, Marks draws explicit parallels between works of classical Islamic art and new media art, describing texts that burst into image, lines that multiply to form fractal spaces, “nonorganic life” in carpets and algorithms, and other shared concepts and images. Islamic philosophy, she suggests, can offer fruitful ways of understanding contemporary art. ... Read more

Product Description
Islamic gardens are enchanting places. Just the names of some of the most beautiful gardens in the world - the Alhambra, the Generalife, the Shalimar - conjure up images of calm and even divine beauty. No visitor is left untouched by their magic. This new paperback edition of "The Art of the Islamic Garden" is an introduction to the design, symbolism and making of an Islamic Garden and it examines that magic, describes the component parts which allow a deeper understanding of the beauty. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Art and Soul of the Islamic Garden
I have been waiting for this book for several months; now that I have it in hand, it exceeds my expectations.It is visually AND intellectually stimulating. I have a particular interest in the symbolism of the Islamic garden and Clark not only gives an in depth description of this, but also puts it in context--historic and contemporary.This is also an excellent guide through the component parts of the garden.The chapter on The Prince of Wales' Carpet Garden is fascinating.
As Islamic gardens play such an important role in the history of garden design, this gem should be in every designer's book collection. ... Read more

Product Description
This book on symmetric geometric patterns of Islamic arthas educational, aesthetic, cultural and practical purposes. Itscentral purpose is to bring to the attention of the world in general,and the people of Islamic culture in particular, the potential of theart for providing a unified experience of science and art in thecontext of mathematical education. Unlike other books on Islamicpatterns, this book emphasizes the educational potential in thecontext of modern physics, chemistry, crystallography and computergraphics. The symmetric structure of about 250 Islamic patterns ispresented. Simple, but detailed original, unpublished algorithmssuitable for modern computer graphics are given for the constructionof two-dimensional periodic patterns. Endorsed by prominent expertsfrom the fields of Physics to Systems and Cybernetics, this bookpromises to be a must-read, not only for specialised mathematicians,but also for students, graphic artists, illustrators, computerhobbyists, as well as the lay reader keen to explore Islamic art. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fascinating
...This book shows how each pattern is constructed. First showing the over all tiling and revealing the basic unit of each, then showing how the transformational rules ( of rotation and mirroring etc.) are applied. It is amazing how complex a pattern may be created from an extremely simple beginning. It contains a few color plates, but its real strength is in the 250 black and white islamic patterns, each with unit cell, and template motif which demonstrate the constructions. Many of the patterns, analyzed are those originally shown in "Arabic Geometrical Pattern and Design" (Dover Pictorial Archive Series) by J. Bourgoin.
...The first half of the book mainly covers Zalij shapes, the nature and properties of symmetry, invariance groups, the 17 groups, their identification, and algorithms for them.
...This book is perhaps more for those interested in symmetry than those interested in drawing islamic patterns.
...The black and white patterns are all of single line width, and thus show no interlacing.
..."Pattern in Islamic Art" by David Wade, ( isbn 0879510420 ) contains interlace patterns from page 78 to 105, but it is not a book about symmetry, it utilizes a grid method of construction.
..."Islamic Geometric Patterns" by Eric Broug ( SBN-10: 050028721X ISBN-13: 978-0500287217) shows the use of a compass on pages 22 and 23 to creat double line width, but has no full plates showing the weaving as does David Wade's book.

Rich source of information
In 1944, Edith Muller claimed that all the 17 wallpaper groups were found in Alhambra. Unfortunately, her paper only contained 11 of them. Grunbaum and Shephard found two more, and finally in 1987 Perez-Gomez found the missing four.

The book includes pictures and discussions of all the 17 wallpaper groups. Unfortunately, it does not include pictures of the "missing" patterns from Alhambra. For that you have to go to J.M. Montesinos: Classical Tessellations and Three-Manifolds. ... Read more

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Product Description
Big art for little hands, these enchanting activity books allow young artists to explore the world's masterpieces on their own terms, with plenty of space to draw their own creations outside the lines. ... Read more