Heaven on Earth: Art from Islamic Lands. Islamic Art from The State Hermitage and the Khalili Collection
25 March 2004 - 3 October 2004

This exhibition of works of art from Islamic lands is the most significant exhibition of its kind in London since the "Festival of Islam " at the Hayward Gallery in 1976. The exhibition presents works of art from the collections of The State Hermitage in St Petersburg and from the Nasser D. Khalili Collection of Islamic Art, London. Both collections have contributed more than 60 works.

The theme of the exhibition is expressed by the famous hadith: ‘Verily, God is beautiful and loves all beauty.'The exhibition includes masterpieces representing the decorative arts of Islam - calligraphy, textiles, jewels, metalwork, ceramics and paintings, ranging in date from the 9th to 19th century and covering an area stretching from Spain and the Arab world to Persia and the Indian subcontinent.

Islamic art has its roots in the artistic traditions of Syria, Mesopotamia and Iran. Luxury which celebrates earthly majesty of Islamic rulers is joined here with a harsh and severe abstraction which reflects the divine majesty of Allah and the holy language of the Koran.

The first gallery celebrates the majesty of God, highlighting the abstract art of calligraphy. Here we find manuscripts of the Koran, woven prayer rugs, tile panels bearing Koranic verses and rich arabesque decoration. In the next room the display shows art for earthly rulers, ‘the shadows of God on earth': bronze and ceramic birds and animals, metalwork, stone relief carving and early Iranian silver. The central feature of the gallery is the celebrated ‘Bobrinsky' bucket from the Hermitage. It was commissioned by a rich merchant of Heart in 1163.

The corridor of the Hermitage Rooms is hung with framed miniatures from Persian religious and secular manuscripts of the 16th and 17th centuries. These works form a visual link to the two adjacent galleries, which present art created for palaces. Gallery IV contains the famous jewels from the Mughal treasury sent as a diplomatic gift to the Princess (later Empress) Elizabeth of Russia by Nadir Shah: boxes, dishes and cups encrusted with rubies, diamonds and emeralds. Here one can also see richly embroidered robes and silk fabrics.

The last gallery deals with the interaction of East and West. A 10th century rock crystal lamp carried off by the Crusaders and mounted in gold and enamels in Italy in the 16th century is shown together with sabers, daggers and other arms richly embellished with jewels. These are complemented by oil paintings of Qajar rulers wearing such arms and by paintings of ladies of their courts. These oil paintings imitate Western paintings and offer a curious blend of Oriental and European styles.

This exhibition in the Hermitage Rooms of Somerset House provides a rare opportunity to view magnificent artifacts from a great cultural and religious tradition, many being shown for the first time in London.

A richly illustrated catalogue to the exhibition with articles by Professor Piotrovsky, Professor Rogers and Dr. Ivanov has been published by Prestel Verlag for The Hermitage Development Trust and the Courtauld Institute of Art.

Aquamanile: Eagle
796-797
Larger view

Incense burner
11th century
Larger view

Three Tiles
Early 14th century
Larger view

Sabre and sheath
1875-1900
Larger view

Small Table, signed by Situram
17th century
Larger view

Tray
17th century
Larger view