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Informationen zum Autor Sheila S. Blair Klappentext 'Sheila S. Blair is a seasoned author with an excellent track record in publishing both specialised and general books on Islamic art. Indeed she is an undisputed star in her field.' - Professor Robert Hillenbrand, University of Edinburgh'I can think of no one more qualified to produce such a volume... She is a recognised and highly-regarded expert in the field..' - Professor W. M. Thackston, Harvard UniversityThis stunning book is an important contribution to a key area of non-western art, being the first reference work on 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 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 100 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 book is an ideal reference for anyone with an interest in Islamic art. Winner of the British-Kuwait Friendship Society Prize 2007. Zusammenfassung This 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. Inhaltsverzeichnis List of FiguresList of AbbreviationsGlossaryIndexPart I: IntroductionChapter 1: Arabic Script: Its Role and PrinciplesChapter 2: MaterialsPart II: The Development of Arabic Script in Early Islamic TimesChapter 3: The Standardization of Arabic ScriptChapter 4: Early Manuscripts of the KoranPart III: The Pre-Eminence of Round Scripts in the Early Middle PeriodChapter 5: The Adoption of Round ScriptsChapter 6: The Proliferation of Round ScriptsPart IV: The Emergence of Regional Styles in the Later Middle PeriodChapter 7: Calligraphy in Iran and its Environs under the Mongols and TurkomansChapter 8: Rectilinear and Curvilinear Scripts in Egypt and Syria under the MamluksChapter 9: Other Styles and CentersPart V: Dynastic Styles in the Age of EmpiresChapter 10: The Safavids, the Qajars, and their Contemporaries in Iran and Central AsiaChapter 11: The Ottomans in Anatolia, the Balkans, and the Eastern MediterraneanChapter 12: Other Styles and CentersPart VI: The Many Faces of Islamic Calligraphy in Modern TimesChapter 13: From Traditional Styles to Graphic Design and Calligraphic ArtBibliographyCopyright AcknowledgementsIndex...
