Orientalism is something that I really love. Or better, I love to study and understand the Orientalist perspective that sometimes, even today, is still present. And it is. Just have a look at Twitter, and you will find a lot, really a lot of pictures of Orientalist paintings, that represent a certain image of the…
Envisioning a Buyid heritage – ‘Amid al-Din at Persepolis 444/1053
In one most famous paper, Oleg Grabar asked ‘Why Write on Buildings?’. And the prominent scholar proposed some reason, and some perspective from which inscriptions and graffiti can be seen and studied. The main point is: if you write something on a wall, probably it is intended to be read, and understood by a certain…
Enhancing the Persian element – Abu Kalijar’s inscription, Persepolis 438/1046
Finding a Buyid inscription carved on the stones of the ancient palace of Darius, in Persepolis, does not seem to be anything new. And indeed it is not. Anyway, the fourth Buyid inscription of Persepolis, carved to commemorate Abu Kalijar, grandson of Baha’a al-Dawla, is quite interesting for some peculiar features.
Artistic relations between East and West: Italian renaissance painters
It has been some time now that I am more and more interested in artistic influences between the Eastern and Western Mediterranean. As always, nothing new under the sun: I am not the first one. Anna Contadini, in her beautiful article ‘Sharing a Taste? Material Culture and Intellectual Curiosity around the Mediterranean, from the Eleventh to the Sixteenth…
Hunting in Persepolis – Baha’ al-Dawla’s inscription 392/1001
‘Adud al-Dawla was the first Buyid ruler to set in the stones of Persepolis a reminder of his presence, in 344/955. Some time later, his third son, Baha’ al-Dawla, did the same.
The definition of Islamic Art – sources and comments
It is quite clear that I am highly interested in the definition of Islamic Art. And of course I am not the only one. Surfing the internet it is possible to find contributions and essays (open-access) asking questions and giving old and new perspectives on an issue that is far from be settled. Recently the…
Mary and Jesus or Maryam and Isa?
It was Christmas time in the city, and the virtual Twitter city provided wonderful samples of art, sometimes Christian, sometimes Islamic, depicting nativity scenes or Christmas-related subjects. Once again, a tweet reminded me the subtle distinction between Islamic art, Islamicate art, art produced in Islamic lands, art improperly called Islamic Art.
Remembering a battle: ‘Adud al-Dawla’s second inscription in Persepolis
Probably shortly after having the first inscription carved in Persepolis, ‘Adud al-Dawla returned in the ancient Persian site to make another inscription, celebrating his victory over Isfahan.
A Buyid inscription in Persepolis (344/955) – reading the past in the past
I like the Buyids: a small dynasty originally from Iranian plateau that ruled Iran and Iraq, or at least parts of the territory, between the 10th and the 11th century. They produced finely made metalwork and beautiful silks, among other things. In their art as well as in their ruling style, they pursued the Iranian…
Islamic Art & Private Collecting – the ethics of ownership
“The strongest criticism against, especially private collecting is that the items collected become inaccessible or are only available to a few ‘friends of the family’. This is always reprehensible.”
SquareKufic 