Nasrid Art - The Alhambra

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Explore the secrets and symbolism of the Nasrid Art.

Founded by Muhammad I ibn Nasr of Arjona (r. 1232–73), the Nasrid dynasty ruled Granada and neighboring Jaén, Almería, and Málaga in the southern Iberian Peninsula. Nasrid art was influenced by the cultural and geographical diversity of Islamic civilisation.

Nasrid Art

The Legacy of a Dynasty

B Y F R O N T I E R S M A G A Z I N E

P U B L I S H E D A U G U S T 12 , 2 0 2 2 • 1 0 M I N R E A D

Nasrid art was influenced by the cultural and geographical diversity of Islamic civilisation. As such, a unique synthesis of vegetal, geometric and calligraphic motifs is what characterises its creative output, regardless of medium. Moreover the common inclusion of the Nasrid motto wa la ghaliba illa Allah or ‘Only God is the Victorious’ became a trademark of the art of this period. Inscriptions from the Quran, notable poetry and simple expressions such as al-afiyah or ‘Good Health’ are also expressed through exquisite kufic and naskh calligraphy.

The main component of Nasrid plasterwork is gypsum (hydrated calcium sulphate). Retardants such as salts, glue or calcium carbonate were added to slow the setting and permit carving while panels were still damp. Sometimes the back would be reinforced with a rougher gypsum plaster containing sand and fibres. On the samples taken from the mortars, only gypsum was found. As a retardant, salts or glue may have been used. No trace of calcium carbonate was found.

During the fourteenth century, the Nasrid sultans dedicated themselves to the decoration of their splendid palaces. Their most singular artistic achievement was the famous Alhambra (al-qal‘a al-hamra), or the red castle, so-called perhaps because of the color of the walls and towers that surround the citadel. Situated on a hill overlooking Granada, the Alhambra was conceived as more than a well-fortified palace—it was a royal city.

Calligraphy

The calligraphic inscriptions found in the Alhambra correspond to two different styles: Kufic (dry style) and Nashkhid-Thuluth (cursive style).

When applied to plasterwork it tends to form part of the decoration becoming almost illegible.

Patterns

Ataurique

(al-tawrīq = leaves, foliage, flora) is the name given to Nasrid floral and vegetal decorations. These patterns come from classic decorative elements, such as fruits, flowers and acanthus leaves, which evolved into more typical Hispano-Muslim abstractions.

Geometry

Mocárabe

Is a type of ornament built up from vertical prisms applied one over another. They would be joined in multiple different arrays resembling stalactites, probably relating to the cave where the prophet Mohammed received the inspiration for the Qur'an.

Nasrid Art

The influence in Spain

The best example of Nasrid art is the Royal residence of the Alhambra (Al-hamra = the red), a world of luxury and comfort, obtained through a combination of splendid architecture and formally designed gardens with numerous fountains and pools. The main architectural features within the buildings are ceramic mosaics, plasterwork and carved wooden ceilings all profusely decorated, reflecting the Islamic tendency to cover all surfaces with complex ornaments (Horror Vacui), and blended together with subtle light effects, carpets, curtains and hanging textiles.

The castle of the Alhambra was added to the city's area within the ramparts in the 9th century, which implied that the castle became a military fortress with a view over the whole city. In spite of this, it was not until the arrival of the first king of the Nasrid dynasty, Mohammed ben Al-Hamar (Mohammed I, 1238-1273), in the 13th century, that the royal residence was established in the Alhambra. This event marked the beginning of the Alhambra's most glorious period.