Islamic Art in Detail
Readers looking for a beautifully produced and engagingly written thematic guide to Islamic iconography will be delighted with Sheila Canby’sIslamic Art in Detail. In addition to the volume’s abundant photo reproductions, all in superbly accurate color, one of its strong points is its inclusive coverage of visual media in nearly every material but fabric and wood—both notoriously fragile. Ceramics, manuscript painting and calligraphy, enameled glass, ivory—even a piece of Central Asian or Chinese jade—make up the repertoire, with spectacular metalwork providing the largest single category of visual data. (John RenardReligion and the Arts2007-12-01)As assistant keeper of the Islamic collections in the British Museum, Sheila R. Canby knows her Islamic art. This exquisitely illustrated collection, awash in brilliant colour, was created as a guide to the elements and themes that define the art of Islam. Spanning a period from 622 AD, on, in a culture that has extended from Spain to southern Asia, this lovely book provides much-needed cultural context for identifying--and appreciating--the widely varied art of Islam. (Globe and Mail)