Islamic Art

A magnificent palace and fortress complex in Granada, Spain, built by the Nasrid dynasty. Considered the pinnacle of Islamic architecture in Western Europe, the Alhambra represents the final flowering of Islamic art and culture in Al-Andalus.

The Great Mosque of Córdoba (Mezquita) is one of the most magnificent examples of Islamic architecture. Built over two centuries by Umayyad rulers, it features horseshoe arches and represents the pinnacle of Moorish achievement in Spain.

The building tradition of the Muslim world, from the first mosques of Medina to the present day and from Spain to Indonesia. Its recurring elements are the dome, the arch, the minaret and the courtyard, and its ornament is geometric rather than figural.

The visual tradition of the Muslim world across fourteen centuries and from Spain to Indonesia. It is united less by a single style than by shared principles: geometric pattern, arabesque, the primacy of calligraphy, and restraint in figural representation.

Islamic calligraphy (khatt) is the supreme art form of Islamic culture, transforming the written word into spiritual expression through elegant scripts. For over fourteen centuries it has adorned mosques, manuscripts, and monuments, making the divine word visually manifest.