The Development of Floral and Geometric Ornamentation in Islamic Art from Its Inception to the Ottoman Era "An Analytical Study of Form and Design"
Abstract
This research explores and analyzes the stages of development of decorative elements in Islamic art since its earliest emergence in the first century AH / seventh century AD, Islamic art is closely associated with the spread of Islam and its teachings, which gave it a unique and distinguished character in form and content. making it a reflection of the aesthetic and spiritual philosophy of Islam. The research aims to uncover the stages that Islamic art across the ages, and the successive artistic layers that formed its identity, which leading to the exploration of the facts of this historical art represented in form, style, impact and other elements that indicate it as an independent and self-contained art form.
The features of Islamic art became particularly evident in the architecture of mosques, which not only functioned as places of worship, but also became the space in which the meanings, spirit and aesthetic philosophy of this art were manifested. This art was reflected in the decoration of many elements associated with the mosque such as: the Holy Qur'an, carpets, ablution vessels, pulpits, domes, hanging lamps from the ceilings of mosques, among other elements that constitute the mosque’s visual environment, which indicates the deep connection between Islamic art and the religious and social function of the mosque.
Although early Islamic art was influenced by a number of previous arts and civilizations, such as Byzantine, Persian, and Christian art. However, it was not a repetition of it, instead it developed under Islamic patronage according to new foundations that express the purposes of the Islamic faith, and respond to the material and spiritual needs of the Islamic community. This interaction between the previous artistic heritage and the emerging Islamic identity, gave rise to a distinct art form with its own principles, styles, and techniques.
This research focuses on tracing the development of floral and geometric ornamentation and the stages they went through in Islamic architecture in particular, it follows the evolution of these motifs from the early days of Islam, beginning with the construction of Quba Mosque - the first mosque built in Islam -, through the Umayyad and Abbasid periods, to the stage of artistic maturity and architectural prosperity in the Ottoman Empire. The research also provides an analysis of artistic styles and decorative styles, in addition to the religious, cultural and technical factors that influenced the structural and aesthetic development of Islamic ornamentation.
The study of the development of decoration in Islamic art not only contributes to understanding the aesthetic aspects of this art, but also opens wider horizons for understanding the intellectual structure behind it, and shows the flexibility of Islamic thought in interacting with temporal and spatial contexts, and its ability to absorb and reshape different influences within an unique aesthetic vision that expresses the spirit of Islamic civilization, and embodies its visual and intellectual identity.
