Friday Mosque of Córdoba, interior 8-10th centuries. Photo Richard Mortel.
Week Three: Domes and Minarets - Mosques of the Islamic world
James Allan, Emeritus Professor of Eastern Art, University of Oxford, and former Keeper of Eastern Art at the Ashmolean Museum, leads this three lecture course which aims to introduce Islamic art and architecture to non-specialists. The first two talks will focus on Islamic art and design, and the third on the most important architectural monuments of Islam, mosques.
We shall look at three of the most important, historic forms of mosque, typified by the Friday Mosque in Córdoba, the Mosque of Suleyman the Magnificent in Istanbul, and the Royal Mosque in Isfahan. We explore the minarets and domes that enhance their skylines, and their rich decorations in mosaics, tiles or other media. Lesser known mosque styles, in such diverse areas as Tunisia, Yemen and Afghanistan, will also be visited, and we will finally ask whether theological differences between orthodox Islam (Sunnism) and Shi’ism have affected mosque designs over the centuries.
Proceeds from our ticket sales benefit museums, galleries and other arts-based organisations and projects.
This is an online event hosted on Zoom which can be watched live, or on-demand for three weeks afterwards. You will receive your link to access the event in your email confirmation and the on-demand link after the event ends.