Treasures of Islam: The Glories of Islamic Civilization - Hardcover

O'Kane, Bernard

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.

About this title

About the Author:

Bernard O'Kane is Professor of Islamic Art and Architecture at The American University in Cairo. His previous appointments include Visiting Professorships at Harvard University and the University of California, Berkeley, in the United States, while his many publications include The Iconography of Islamic Art (2005) and Early Persian Painting (2003).

From Publishers Weekly:

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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About this edition

• Publisher: Watkins Publishing
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 1844834832
• ISBN 13: 9781844834839
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 244