Uncovering ‘Islamic Art’: al-Birūnī and the Ilkhanid Miniatures

Issa, Islam (2024) Uncovering ‘Islamic Art’: al-Birūnī and the Ilkhanid Miniatures. Cankaya University Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 18 (1). pp. 157-162. ISSN 1309-6761

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Abstract

This essay provides a detailed study of an Ilkhanid miniature of Adam and Eve from 1307/08. The story of Adam and Eve has captured the imaginations of countless artists over centuries. Islamic tradition does not have the religious, figural art culture of its Christian counterpart, and images of Adam and Eve present further issues due to their nudity. The miniature in question is an isolated example which has been presented under the banner of ‘Islamic art’ in David Talbot Rice’s landmark study Islamic Art (1965). In the picture, Adam and Eve are both naked, though Eve covers her private area with one hand. This essay proves that this image, based on al-Birūnī’s Chronology of Ancient Nations (c. 1000) is not a straightforward exemplification of Islamic art for several reasons, including details of its materiality, the timing of its composition, and the various influences on its style and content.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number:	10.47777/cankujhss.1486242
Dates:	Date Event 5 May 2024 Accepted 30 June 2024 Published Online
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Ilkhanid, Islamic Art, al-Biruni, Adam, Eve
Subjects:	CAH25 - design, and creative and performing arts > CAH25-01 - creative arts and design > CAH25-01-02 - art
Divisions:	Faculty of Arts, Design and Media > College of English and Media
Depositing User:	Gemma Tonks
Date Deposited:	16 Dec 2024 14:06
Last Modified:	16 Dec 2024 14:06
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/16031

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