Islamic Art- Abbasid Dynasty

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Islamic Art- ABBASID DYNASTY

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* 750-1258
* Capital: Baghdad/Samarra
* Sect: Sunni
* Ethnicity: Arabic (persian influences)
* Ruler: Caliph

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samarra huntress fresco

* abbasids (750-1258)
* abbasids take Baghdad in 762, but unofficial capital is Samarra. Calephs build highly elaborate desert palaces along Tigris river.
* abbasids take on asiatic style in the ideal of beauty in human rendering. more perisan type.

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samarra style stucco

* abbasids (750-1258)
* abbasids take Baghdad in 762, but unofficial capital is Samarra. Calephs build highly elaborate desert palaces along Tigris river.
* built quickly and in great numbers. stucco exterior decoration was quick and efficient. simplified by use of rolling pin-esque mechanism, stamp-like imprinting.

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elephant silk (st. josse silk)

* abbasids (750-1258)
* taken by crusaders and preserved in church in the west.
* naturalistic > unnatural
* kufic calligraphy

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silver gilt dish with princely cycle

* abbasids (750-1258)
* prince seated, 3/4 profile, princely entertainments. heart is a sessanian emblem. princely cycle, hunting, falcones and trained leopards. calligraphy: wishes for good health, wealth, etc.
*solid silver, covered in gold, refired and carved. ceramic dish for upper middle class- imitate objects that would be made for royalty. "democratization of the image"

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white slipware dish with kufic

* abbasids (750-1258)
* chinese porcelain, shows chinese influence and trade. dot in middle also borrowed from chinese art. not functional- meant to be displayed.

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blue qur'an

* fatimid (921-1171)
* tendency towards imperial- trying to out do the caleph and the byzantine emperor. looking back to byzantine style for manuscript making. script becoming more graphic and decorative.