Sheila R. Canby – författare

Introduces a previously unpublished major collection of Islamic, Modern, and Contemporary Middle Eastern art, notable for its exceptional range and breadth from earliest times to the present   The Farjam Collection of Islamic, and Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern art, comprising over 5,000 artworks, is well known in the Middle East and to the cognoscenti but has remained unpublished until now. This two-volume publication published in four books comprises over 800 highlights from the collection, introducing it as a major resource for scholars, students, and bibliophiles. Unusual amongst collections of Islamic art, the exceptional range and breadth of this collection includes the arts of the Islamic world from earliest times up to and including the contemporary Middle East. This unique characteristic, represented across the themes of both volumes, provides an unusual cross-cultural experience demonstrating continuity, dialogue and influences—from within as well as in between the cultures—throughout centuries. Organised thematically with high quality photography, the book reflects current trends in the study of Islamic and Contemporary art through essays and entries written by eminent scholars.

Celebrating a major collection of Islamic art, this volume spans the entire history of Islam to bring together items produced throughout the vast region between Andalusia and Mughal India  The Farjam Collection of Islamic, and Modern and Contemporary Middle Eastern art, comprising over 5,000 artworks, is well known in the Middle East and to the cognoscenti but has remained unpublished until now. This two-volume boxed set examines around 350 highlights from the collection stretching from the seventh century to the early 1900s, introducing it as a major resource for scholars, students, and bibliophiles. The exceptional breadth of this collection spans the entire history of Islam, bringing together items produced throughout the vast region between Andalusia and Mughal India. Its treasures include Quranic manuscripts, miniatures, and illustrated books on science, mathematics and poetry, as well as finely decorated metalwork, lacquer, glasswork, tiles, glazed pottery, woodwork, textiles, jewellery, and fine carpets. It explores the continuity, dialogue, and influences throughout centuries of Islamic art. Organised thematically with high quality photography throughout, the book reflects current trends in the study of Islamic art through essays and entries written by eminent scholars.

This stunning book offers an introduction to and an exceptional view of an imposing collection of arts from across the Islamic world, highlighting outstanding examples of design, workmanship and craft in paintings and manuscripts, calligraphy, metalwork, ceramics, jade, glass, wood and ivory. The book opens with an explanation of the characteristics common to artistic creativity stretching back to the seventh century, from Spain to Indonesia. Works of superlative quality are then organised into chapters relating to central themes such as religion and belief, the supernatural and natural worlds, feasting, the hunt, war, music and power. The author explores each magnificent artwork in turn, providing cultural context and pointing out special features. By showing the complete artwork as well as enlarged details – sometimes virtually invisible to the naked eye – intriguing comparisons can be drawn and juxtapositions made between seemingly unrelated media. The selection of illustrations evokes the hand and eye of the most accomplished artists of the Islamic world.

A reissue of this popular title with a fresh new paperback format, this collection of beautiful Persian love poetry is richly illustrated with images from the British Museum’ s world-famous collection. Love is everywhere in Persian poetry and can be interpreted in various ways: as mystic love, the basis of the relationship between humans and God; as passionate or affectionate love between lovers, husbands and wives, parents and children, family and friends; even as patriotic love for Iran. The literary style and indeed the Persian language itself are floral and elaborate, but the themes differ little from our preoccupations with love and romance today. With a brief introduction to the Persian poetic tradition and a short biographical note about each of the major poets, this beautiful anthology is the perfect way to discover the treasures of Persian literature and art.

As leading painter at the court of Shah 'Abbas I (1587-1629), Riza often expressed the progressive mood of Safavid Iran. This volume provides a catalogue of his work and analyses the relationship of his life to his stylistic development, which exerted enormous influence on other Iranian artists.