#Islamic Art

Asian Art

The Decline of Mughal Arts under Aurangzeb

Muḥī al-Dīn Muḥammad was the sixth man to ascend to the Mughal throne and the last of the strong Mughal rulers. He was a notable expansionist...

Maya M. Tola 7 September 2023

Quartz and chromium muscovite Wine Cup of Jahangir, ca. 1612 to 1613, RISD Museum, Providence, RI, USA. Design

Jahangir’s Wine Cups: Mughal Decorative Arts

The Mughal Empire stands as one of history’s most opulent periods known to nurture a rich tapestry of art and architecture that offers a...

Maya M. Tola 14 August 2023

Medieval Art

All That Glitters: The Sparkling World of Medieval Mosaics

Welcome to the sparkling world of medieval mosaics! Although not as famous as illuminated manuscripts or stained glass, the mosaic was a popular art...

Alexandra Kiely 2 August 2023

Asian Art

Mughal Gardens: Paradise on Earth

The Mughal regime is a well-documented era and the cultural achievements of this period are an important landmark in South Asian art history. While...

Maya M. Tola 24 July 2023

Stained-glass windows, Nasie Al Mulk Mosque, Iran Architecture

7 Extraordinary Stained Glass Wonders You Need to Know

The practice of decorating pieces of glass with the aim of adorning a room seems to originate in the ancient Roman Empire. Later stained glass...

Camilla de Laurentis 23 June 2023

Architecture

Jali in Mughal Architecture, the Most Delicate Stone Curtains

The jali, or pierced screens, have been extensively employed in Indian construction since time immemorial. They appear in both Hindu and Islamic...

Maya M. Tola 18 April 2023

Architecture

Rococo and Baroque Architecture in Turkey

Representing splendor, opulence, and brilliance, Rococo art prevailed in Europe from the year 1700. It followed the Baroque period in art, which...

Merve Parla 10 April 2023

Asian Art

Peek into the Court: Stunning Qajar Portraits

I’m sure you’re well acquainted with European royal portraiture. But have you ever seen portraits of rulers from beyond Europe? We want to show...

Magda Michalska 20 February 2023

monir farmanfarmaian Women Artists

Iranian Mirror Mosaics of Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian

Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian (1922–2019) was a contemporary Iranian artist who became a living legend while she was still alive. Her oeuvre...

Marga Patterson 9 January 2023

Plate with Arabic Inscription, ca 975-1000, painted and glazed earthenware, Musée du Louvre, Paris, France. Detail. Masterpiece Stories

Masterpiece Story: Plate with Arabic Inscription

Plate with Arabic Inscription is a masterpiece of 10th-century Islamic art. It combines minimalism, abstraction, and morality into a beautiful and...

James W Singer 20 October 2022

Contemporary Art

More than a Stone. Representation of the Kaaba by Hamra Abbas

The 17th century world map from an Ottoman book on the discovery of the Americas Tarih-i Hind-i Garbi (History of the West Indies) points to Mecca...

Magda Michalska 7 August 2022

Art Travels

A Journey to Andalusia – Discover the Cultural Crossroads of Seville

Today, Seville’s golden age may have passed, but that is not to say it is without its treasures. Now the capital of Andalusia has inherited a...

Kacper Grass 7 August 2022