Islamic calligraphy / Sheila S. Blair.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Blair, Sheila, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Islamic calligraphy.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xxxvii, 681 pages) : illustrations

Place of Publication:

Edinburgh : Edinburgh University Press, 2018.

System Details:

Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Summary:

Joint Winner of the 2007 British-Kuwait Friendship Society Prize for Middle Eastern StudiesWinner of 2008 World Prize for Book of the Year by the Iranian Ministry of Culture and Islamic GuidanceSelected as a 2007 CHOICE Outstanding Academic TitleThis stunning book is an important contribution to a key area of non-western art, being the first reference work on the art of beautiful writing in Arabic script.The extensive use of writing is a hallmark of Islamic civilization. Calligraphy, the art of beautiful writing, became one of the main methods of artistic expression from the seventh century to the present in almost all regions from the far Maghrib, or Islamic West, to India and beyond. Arabic script was adopted for other languages from Persian and Turkish to Kanembu and Malay. Sheila S. Blair's groundbreaking book explains this art form to modern readers and shows them how to identify, understand and appreciate its varied styles and modes. The book is designed to offer a standardized terminology for identifying and describing various styles of Islamic calligraphy and to help Westerners appreciate why calligraphy has long been so important in Islamic civilization.The argument is enhanced by the inclusion of more than 150 colour illustrations, as well as over a hundred black-and-white details that highlight the salient features of the individual scripts and hands. Examples are chosen from dated or datable examples with secure provenance, for the problem of forgeries and copies (both medieval and modern) is rampant. The illustrations are accompanied by detailed analyses telling the reader what to look for in determining both style and quality of script.This beautiful new book is an ideal reference for anyone with an interest in Islamic art.Key Features:Written by the world's leading expert on Islamic calligraphyIncludes c.150 colour illustrationsComprehensive: covers the art of calligraphy throughout Isla

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Figures

Abbreviations

Glossary

Preface

Part I: Introduction

Chapter One. Arabic Script: Its Role and Principles

Chapter Two. Materials

Part II: The Development of Arabic Script in Early Islamic Times

Chapter Three. The Standardization of Arabic Script

Chapter Four. Early Manuscripts of the Koran

Part III: The Pre-eminence of Round Scripts in the Early Middle Period

Chapter Five. The Adoption of Round Scripts

Chapter Six. The Proliferation of Round Scripts

Part IV: The Emergence of Regional Styles in the Later Middle Period

Chapter Seven. Calligraphy in Iran and its Environs under the Mongols and Turkomans

Chapter Eight. Rectilinear and Curvilinear Scripts in Egypt and Syria under the Mamluks

Chapter Nine. Other Styles and Centers

Part V: Dynastic Styles in the Age of Empires

Chapter Ten. The Safavids, the Qajars, and their Contemporaries in Iran and Central Asia

Chapter Eleven. The Ottomans in Anatolia, the Balkans, and the Eastern Mediterranean

Chapter Twelve. Other Styles and Centers

Part VI: The Many Faces of Islamic Calligraphy in Modern Times

Chapter Thirteen. From Traditional Styles to Graphic Design and Calligraphic Art

Bibliography

Copyright Acknowledgments

Index

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 628-658) and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-4744-6447-5