The Dome of the Rock: Original Mosaics Heba Mostafa Synopsis: This presentation explores fragments of the original exterior mosaics of the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, currently housed at al-Aqsa Museum in the Haram al-Sharif. They represent a lost chapter in the history of the Dome of the Rock, while also raising important questions…
Month: August 2020
The Egyptian Tentmakers and the Art of Khayamiya
The Egyptian Tentmakers and the Art of Khayamiya Sam Bowker Synopsis: This talk introduces the textile art of tentmaker appliqué, or “khayamiya.” Historically, the Egyptian tentmakers sewed complex decorative interiors for urban tents, providing spectacular temporary venues for public and private events. Today, they use these skills to create textile artworks resembling quilts, sustaining their…
Mahmoud Mukhtar’s Khamasin: Sculpture in Modern Egypt
Mahmoud Mukhtar’s Khamasin: Scuplture in Modern Egypt Alex Dika Seggerman Synopsis: This presentation discusses the rise of the Egyptian modern fine arts movement in the early 20th century through a close look at a sculpture by Egypt’s most renowned modern sculptor, Mahmoud Mukhtar (1891‒1934). Entitled “Khamasin,” the work depicts a woman walking into a sand…
The Gwalior Qur’an
The Gwalior Qur’an Marika Sardar Synopsis: Completed in 1399, the Gwalior Qur’an features illuminations, commentaries, and notations in addition to the Qur’anic text. These include a set of instructions to use the Qur’an as a divinatory text—the earliest known example of its kind. This rich and varied compendium of texts speak to the cultural and…
A Samanid Epigraphic Dish
A Samanid Epigraphic Dish Marika Sardar Synopsis: Ceramic dishes of the Samanid period (819–1005) are known for the inclusion of epigraphy in their decorative programs. Inscriptions include proverbs praising moral qualities, such as generosity, planning, and wisdom. This presentation explores a Samanid epigraphic dish in the Aga Khan Museum collections and compares its epigraphic contents…
Al-Aqmar Mosque
Al-Aqmar Mosque Jennifer Pruitt Synopsis: Cairo’s al-Aqmar mosque was founded in 1125 during the reign of the Fatimids. This presentation explores the mosque’s architectural features, façade ornamentation, and Isma‘ili Shi‘i symbolism. Its engagement with already existing structures and streets also highlights a major turning point in the city’s built environment, heralding a new trajectory for…
The Paintings of Osman Hamdi Bey
The Paintings of Osman Hamdi Bey Emily Neumeier Synopsis: Osman Hamdi Bey (1842–1910) is recognized today as the foremost artist of the late-Ottoman period. Yet, in his time, it was also his unique access to the ancient past as the head of Istanbul’s archaeology museum that drew the special interest of his contemporaries in Western…
Monumental Mosques in Latin America: Key Modern and Contemporary Case Studies
Monumental Mosques in Latin America: Key Modern and Contemporary Case Studies Caroline “Olivia” Wolf Synopsis: Although largely overlooked in the study of Islamic art, the architecture of purpose-built mosques and Islamic Cultural Centers in Latin America powerfully negotiate religious space and identity for diverse Muslim communities in predominantly Catholic countries. This presentation provides a brief…
Islamic Art at the Walters Art Museum
Islamic Art at the Walters Art Museum Ashley Dimmig Synopsis: Take a virtual tour of some of the highlights of Islamic Art at the Walters Art Museum (Baltimore, MD) with Ashley Dimmig, Wieler-Mellon Postdoctoral Curatorial Fellow in Islamic Art. Explore a variety of objects in various media—including a stunning jeweled gun—that span a millennium of…
Contextualizing the Hünername (Book of Talents)
Contextualizing the Hünername (Book of Talents) Melis Taner Synopsis: This talk introduces the Hünername (Book of Talents), an illustrated manuscript prepared in the late 16th century at the Ottoman court. This work, composed in Ottoman Turkish by Seyyid Lokman, was conceived in four volumes, only two of which were completed. As a whole, the project deals with…