Contrasting Islamic and Byzantine Art

I decided to contrast Islamic and Byzantine art because they are very different. There are many obvious differences but also some smaller less obvious details.

This is an example of Islamic

This is an example on Byzantine art

As said by LACMA's description of Islamic art, Islamic art uses vivid colors and uses both form and design, it is considered highly dynamic art. There is significant influences from other cultures, but it does use it's own unique artistic language. Calligraphy is the most important element in Islamic art.  It has always been considered the noblest form of art because the Qur'an which is the Muslim holy book. Islamic art also covered surfaces with patterns composed of geometric elements. Representational imagery is only allowed in private and is excluded from the decoration of religious monuments as not to be mistaken with idolatry, which is forbidden. Manuscripts, woven textiles and carpets, metalwork, glass, ceramics, and carved wood and stone are all aspects of Islamic art. The making of religious buildings was up to the government not the people.

As said my the Metropolitan museum of art, Byzantine art is the product of the Eastern Roman Empire. Byzantine paintings and mosaics are characterized by a rich use of color and figures which seem flat and stiff. The figures also tend to appear to be floating, and to have large eyes. Backgrounds tend to be solid gold. Intended as religious lessons, they were presented clearly and simply in order to be easily learned. Early Byzantine art is often called "Early Christian art."

As you can see there are many obvious differences between the two art styles.

Islamic and Byzantine Empire project (Women's Fashion)

The Byzantine Empire and Islamic Civilization were both very different in what they wore on a day-to-day basis. The Byzantine women dressed for style, mostly wearing long tunics decorated with jewels with extravagant hairstyles. Women of the Islamic civilization believed that they should dress according to the beliefs of their religion. Most outfits were basic tunics with no decoration. Islamic women would also cover their hair so there was no need for expensive hairpieces. The primary sources I used when researching were Costume by Margot Lister, Britannica School High, and The Metropolitan Museum of Art/ Fashion in Safavid Iran. All of these tell what types of clothes were worn and why.

The women of the Islamic Civilization wore clothes that followed the guidelines of their religion. Britannica School online stated that St. Paul wrote to Timothy, Women should were modest clothes that are not highly decorated with expensive jewels. He also said that acts of kindness and good deeds are more valuable in the life of religious women than owning expensive things.

In the Byzantine Empire, the women were the complete opposite of the Islams, wearing silk robes and tunics that were decorated from head to toe in jewels. In the book Costume, the paragraph on Byzantine dressing says that the outfits were very colorful with precious stones, and embroidery. The way the Byzantine’s dressed was based of the combination of Greek, Roman, and the cultural blend of surrounding empires. 

This photo is an example of a piece of silk that was made into a tunic that Islamic women wore.               Website:http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/26.231.2  Link to Photo:http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/26.231.2

A page in Costume, that shows the different styles of Byzantine outfits. 

Outline: 

Byzantine Empire:

1)   Clothes worn by women on a daily basis.

a)    Silk tunics or dresses decorated with jewels.

b)   Some tunics were made of wool. Also, pearls were a commonly used jewel used to decorate headpieces and accessories on the tunics, such as belts.

c)    Shoes were made of leather or silk, and necklaces and earrings were made f gold, pearls, and other assorted beads.

Islamic Civilization:

1)   Clothing worn by Islamic women

a)    Long tunics made of silk were worn but most patterns were plain and non-expensive.

b)   Scarves were worn around the head to cover the women’s face. Jewelry was also not worn because of the guidelines of the religion they followed.

Works Cited: 

Yarwood, Doreen. "Britannica School." Britannica School. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2013.

Lister, Margot. Costume. Boston: Plays, 1968. Print.

"Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History." Textile Panel with Birds and Flowering Vines [Iran] (26.231.2). N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2013