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Islamic art

Art and architecture produced from the 7th century onwards by people (not necessarily Muslim) in the service of the Muslim faith (for example, a mosque and its furnishings), in the lands ruled by Muslims, produced for Muslim patrons, or created by Muslim artists.

Islamic art is not only restricted to religious art, but also includes the art of the rich and varied cultures of Islamic societies. It frequently includes secular elements, if not forbidden by some Islamic theologians. Religious art is actually less prominent in Islamic art than in Western medieval art, with the exception of Islamic architecture with their mosques and complexes of surrounding buildings.
Figurative painting may cover religious scenes, but usually in essentially secular contexts such as the walls of palaces or illuminated books of poetry. The calligraphy and decoration of manuscript Qu'rans is an important aspect, but other religious art usually have the same style and motifs as contemporary secular art, although with religious inscriptions even more prominent.

Islamic art developed from the lands newly conquered by the Muslims: Greco-Roman, Early Christian art, and Byzantine styles were taken over in early Islamic art and architecture; the influence of the Sasanian art of pre-Islamic Persia was of paramount significance; Central Asian styles were brought in with various nomadic incursions; and Chinese influences had an formative effect on Islamic painting, pottery, and textiles.
Only gradually, under the impact of the Muslim faith and nascent Islamic state, did a uniquely Islamic art emerge. The rule of the Umayyad caliphate (661–750) is often considered to be the formative period in Islamic art.

The four basic components of Islamic ornament are calligraphy, vegetal patterns known as the arabesque, geometric patterns, and figural representation. Islamic art has focused on the depiction of patterns and Arabic calligraphy, rather than on figures, because it is feared by many Muslims that the depiction of the human form is a sin against God. Human portrayals can be found in all eras of Islamic art but is considered idolatry for the purpose of worship and is duly forbidden in Islamic law, known as Sharia law. There are also many depictions of Muhammad, Islam's chief prophet, in historical Islamic art. Small decorative figures of animals and humans, especially if they are hunting the animals, are found on secular pieces in many media from many periods.

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Associated subjects: arabesque (+), relics (+), manuscript illustration (+), islamic style (+), byzantine culture (+), vegetal patterns (+), new discoveries (+), islamic decorative arts (+), prophet muhammad (+), merchants continued trading (+), fantastic motifs (+), byzantium (+), sasanians (+), vegetal scrolls (+), mughal painting (+), printing presses (+), orientalism (+), calligrapher (+), hellenistic art (+), carpets (+), illuminators (+), ottoman empire (+), astronomers (+), ayyubids (+), safavids of iran (+), geometric patterns (+), glass (+), textiles (+), muslim faith (+), mamluks (+)

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