Islamic art
Calligraphy and geometry
Islamic art encompasses the visual arts produced in regions where Islam has been culturally dominant, from Spain to Indonesia, spanning the 7th century to the present.
The term covers architecture, calligraphy, ceramics, textiles, metalwork, and manuscript illumination.
Geometric patterns and arabesque designs are characteristic, partly because traditional interpretations discouraged depicting living beings: The mosque featured stunning Islamic art in its tilework.
The category is cultural and geographic rather than strictly religious—it includes secular objects and work by non-Muslim artists within Islamic societies.
Islamic house of worship
- minaretMosque tower with balcony
- domeRounded vault forming roof
- iwanThree-sided vaulted chamber
- courtyardEnclosed open-air space
ablution fountain · screen · arch · horseshoe arch · pointed arch · squinch · mausoleum · madrasa
Gapless plane coverage
- symmetryInvariance under transformation
- hexagonSix-sided closed figure
- octagonEight-sided polygon
- latticeOpenwork of crossed strips
tiling · pattern · interlace · grid · knotwork · repetition · infinite · mathematics
Weave elements together
- scrollworkSpiral ornamental design
- vinesClimbing, trailing plants
- floralsBotanical-themed designs
- foliagePlant's leafy covering
rosettes · acanthus · swirls · stucco · plasterwork · fretwork · filigree · textile
Member of Turkish dynasty
- MughalIndian Islamic imperial dynasty
- MoorishOf medieval Iberian Muslims
- AndalusianOf southern Spain
- PersianOf or from Iran
Seljuk · Alhambra · Topkapi · Taj Mahal · Isfahan · Samarkand · Damascus · Cairo
Elaborately decorated
- intricateElaborately detailed, many parts
- gildedOverlaid with gold leaf
- embellishedDecorated or exaggerated
- lavishAbundant beyond necessity
opulent · sumptuous · filigree · brocade · embroidery · textile · carpet · kilim
Flat covering pieces
- tesseraeMosaic's constituent pieces
- inlayEmbedded surface ornamentation
- ceramicFired clay material
- glassTransparent solid from sand
marble · stone · faience · fountain · courtyard · dado · spandrel · intarsia
Written words for performance
- bismillah"In God's name"
- penmanshipSkill of forming letters
- inkWriting fluid
- reed penCut hollow stem for writing
parchment · illumination · manuscript · flourish · ligature · sura · verse · inscription
Small detailed painted artwork
- illuminationProvision of light
- marginalBarely adequate
- frontispieceBook's introductory illustration
- colophonBook's production statement
binding · gold leaf · lapis lazuli · pigment · bestiary · scientific · botanical · astronomical
mosque
Islamic house of worship
courtyard · ablution fountain · screen · arch · horseshoe arch · pointed arch · squinch · mausoleum · madrasa · caravanserai
tessellation
Gapless plane coverage
lattice · tiling · pattern · interlace · grid · knotwork · repetition · infinite · mathematics · rosette
interlace
Weave elements together
- scrollworkSpiral ornamental design
- vinesClimbing, trailing plants
- floralsBotanical-themed designs
foliage · rosettes · acanthus · swirls · stucco · plasterwork · fretwork · filigree · textile · lacework
Ottoman
Member of Turkish dynasty
- MughalIndian Islamic imperial dynasty
- MoorishOf medieval Iberian Muslims
- AndalusianOf southern Spain
Persian · Seljuk · Alhambra · Topkapi · Taj Mahal · Isfahan · Samarkand · Damascus · Cairo
ornate
Elaborately decorated
- intricateElaborately detailed, many parts
- gildedOverlaid with gold leaf
- embellishedDecorated or exaggerated
lavish · opulent · sumptuous · filigree · brocade · embroidery · textile · carpet · kilim · metalwork
tiles
Flat covering pieces
glass · marble · stone · faience · fountain · courtyard · dado · spandrel · intarsia · marquetry
script
Written words for performance
- bismillah"In God's name"
- penmanshipSkill of forming letters
- inkWriting fluid
reed pen · parchment · illumination · manuscript · flourish · ligature · sura · verse · inscription · epigraphy
miniature painting
Small detailed painted artwork
- illuminationProvision of light
- marginalBarely adequate
- frontispieceBook's introductory illustration
colophon · binding · gold leaf · lapis lazuli · pigment · bestiary · scientific · botanical · astronomical · Shiraz
- artRenaissance, painters, masterpieces, paint, Baroque
- art stylesimpressionism, surrealism, cubism, realism, minimalism
- Middle EastIraq, Baghdad, Cairo, Iran, Jordan
- world art
- World Artsimpressionism, ukiyo-e, Persian miniatures, icon painting, woodblock prints
- art museumspaintings, The Louvre, galleries, permanent collection, exhibitions
Islamic artChristian art
Religious imagery from churches
Byzantine art · Catholic art · Hindu art · Buddhist art · Jewish art
Islamic artportrait painting
Artistic depiction of person
religious iconography · icon painting · figurative art · iconography · idolatry
art, artist, artistic, artistry, artful, artisan, artless, artsy, Islam