A beautifully illustrated survey of Islamic architecture and architectural decoration from the frontiers of Iran to the heart of IndiaFrom Isfahan through Samarqand and to the Taj Mahal, the luxurious 'Persian style' took Islamic art to new aesthetic heights. In this superbly crafted survey, Henri Stierlin discusses the vast scope of Islamic architecture and architectural decoration from the frontiers of Iran to the heart of India and places it within its historical context, while copious photographs of Islam's monuments, ceramics, miniatures and carpets enable us to use art as a window into Islamic culture.The final section of the book is an in-depth presentation of nine great masterpieces of Islamic architecture, including the Friday Mosque in Isfahan, the Registan in Samarqand, the abandoned Mughal city of Fategpur Sikri and Agra's miraculous Taj Mahal.Written in a lively and accessible style, this magnificently illustrated book shows us not only the range but also the amazing skill and virtuosity of the Islamic architect. With its clear yet thoroughly comprehensive coverage of this immense subject, it is an indispensible overview of one of this great civilization's artistic traditions.Table of ContentsPart 1: History and Art • The Spread of the Persian Style from Isfahan to the Taj MahalMap • The Rebirth of Iran • Muslims in India and Mongols in Iran • Samarqand and the Masterworks of the Timurids • The Evolution of the Mughal Style from Babur to Akbar • Architecture, Manuscript Painting and Carpets in Bukhara and under the early Safavids • The Flowering of Safavid Iran: the Masterworks of Isfahan • Jahangir and Shah Jahan: the Great Age of the Mughals • The Last Creations: Late Iran, the Khanate of Khiva, Aurangzeb and the Rajputs • Postscript: The Primacy of Architecture in the 'Persianized' WorldPart 2: Key Monuments in the Persian Style • The Origins of Muslim Iran: History and Culture 622 - 900 • Glossary • Select Bibliography

Islamic Art and Architecture: From Isfahan to the Taj Mahal PDF

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