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๐ŸŽจ The arts โœ’๏ธ Calligraphy and Arab arts

Painting and sculpture among the Arabs

The art of book decoration, Morocco, twelfth century AH.
The art of book decoration, Morocco, twelfth century AH.

๐Ÿ“– In short

The Arabs have known painting and sculpture since ancient times, linked to architecture, decoration and books. Artists decorated walls, doors and books with beautiful pictures and patterns, and carved stone, wood and plaster into fine geometric and plant shapes.

๐Ÿคฉ Did you know?

  • Yahya al-Wasiti made famous illustrations for al-Hariri's Maqamat about eight hundred years ago.
  • Beautiful plaster decorations have been found in the old city of Nishapur.
  • One kind of Arab carving is the slanted, beveled style.
  • Miniatures are tiny, very detailed paintings made with a fine brush.

๐Ÿ”Ž Find out more

๐ŸŒŸ Painting in books

Arab artists painted small colored pictures in books called miniatures, illustrating stories and science, like al-Wasiti's paintings for al-Hariri's โ€œMaqamatโ€, which show people, markets and camels.

๐Ÿ” Plaster carving

Artists excelled at carving plaster on walls, making interlaced plant patterns, stars and geometric shapes, as in the Alhambra and the Abbasid palaces of Samarra.

๐Ÿ’ก Carved wood

Skilled carpenters carved wooden doors, minbars and chests, inlaying them with ivory and mother-of-pearl, so they became works of art.

๐ŸŽฏ Modern Arab art

In modern times many Arab painters and sculptors have appeared, painting oil pictures and making statues, and schools of fine arts have been founded in many Arab countries.

๐Ÿ“ธ More pictures

A manuscript in graceful Tunisian script, richly decorated, dating from the eleventh century AH.
A manuscript in graceful Tunisian script, richly decorated, dating from the eleventh century AH.
A mosque in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, decorated with wonderfully colored tiles, with Kufic writing on the minaret. Silver decoration. The beauty of old architecture and plaster carving. Decoration on the outer walls of the noble Sacred Mosque in Makkah. A ceramic tile decorated with geometric designs in harmonious, interlocking units.
A mosque in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, decorated with wonderfully colored tiles, with Kufic writing on the minaret. Silver decoration. The beauty of old architecture and plaster carving. Decoration on the outer walls of the noble Sacred Mosque in Makkah. A ceramic tile decorated with geometric designs in harmonious, interlocking units.
A mosque in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, decorated with wonderfully colored tiles, with Kufic writing on the minaret. Silver decoration. The beauty of old architecture and plaster carving. Decoration on the outer walls of the noble Sacred Mosque in Makkah. A ceramic tile decorated with geometric designs in harmonious, interlocking units.
A mosque in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, decorated with wonderfully colored tiles, with Kufic writing on the minaret. Silver decoration. The beauty of old architecture and plaster carving. Decoration on the outer walls of the noble Sacred Mosque in Makkah. A ceramic tile decorated with geometric designs in harmonious, interlocking units.

๐Ÿงฉ Test yourself

1 What do we call the small colored pictures in old books?

2 Which material did Arab artists carve many wall decorations in?

3 Which picture shows โ€œPainting and sculpture among the Arabsโ€?

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