Islam and the Religious Arts

Rather than a systematic history of art, which follows chronology and geography, this study describes the general trends and traditions in the Islamic world relating to art, its creation, calligraphy, mosque architecture and decoration, the theme of paradise, pilgrimage, and costume, among other topics. The treatment of each topic is detailed and complex in terms of theory, with emphasis placed on traditional practice, its development, and current mores, and assumes a knowledge of Islamic culture and history. As an overview to Muslim notions of art, particularly in religious contexts, this book is an excellent addition to the literature. Considering the book's high price, it's unfortunate that the quality of the plates is not better, and that many of the images are blurry. Baker is an independent scholar in the UK who has published on textiles and glass, particularly of the Ottoman Empire and Iran. Annotation c2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Patricia L. Baker (1942-2008) was an independent lecturer and researcher with over 30 years' study in Islamic studies and a decade in teaching the history of ceramics and glass. She received her PhD from the University of London.