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The Islamic World from China to Europe
15 November 2008 - 6 September 2009
The exhibition is dedicated to the contacts between the Islamic World
with the neighbouring cultures of Europe and China. It is aimed at displaying
the immense variety of Islamic art as represented in the State Hermitage
Museum collections and at demonstrating that the Islamic World has never
been isolated from world culture but, on the contrary, has always remained
as a deeply integrated part of it.
The exhibition includes more than 300 pieces coming from different countries
of the Islamic World and consists of four sections. The first section
is devoted to Islamic art from the origin of Islam in the 7th century
to the Mongol invasion (13th century). It is in this period that Islamic
art as such developed, having absorbed the cultural traditions and achievements
of the nations having happened to be involved into the Caliphate’s range
of dominance, such as: Egypt, Syria and the Sassanid Empire. The second
section illustrates the subsequent development of Islamic art from the
Mongol invasion well up to the 16th century. The influence of Chinese
culture is specially emphasized in this section, an influence which the
Mongol invasion served to intensify: the invaders having succeeded in
conquering a vast territory from the Volga river to the realms of the
Middle Kingdom created a favourable background for the export of both
Chinese goods and cultural and artistic traditions as is clearly shown
by the numerous Chinese themes and subjects adopted by Islamic art and
the imitation of Chinese silk and porcelain increasingly gaining popularity.
The third section jointly displays works of art dating from 16th-19th
centuries and originating from various Islamic countries. It is during
this period that Islamic culture is strongly affected by European traditions.
The industrial boom in Europe and subsequent intensification of trade
resulted in European culture becoming more popular in Islamic countries
which could not but influence their artistic traditions with respect to
both painting and applied art. The fourth section deals with political
(both diplomatic and military) contacts between Russia and the Islamic
World. Among the exhibits are diplomatic gifts from monarchs of Islamic
countries to Russian tsars and emperors and trophies captured by Russian
soldiers in the numerous wars with Turkey and Persia. The tent from Bukhara
is surely the gem of the display. The State Hermitage Museum specialists
have recently succeeded in restoring the exact original shape of the pavilion
which is really a portable palace, consisting of several rooms and awnings,
a system of corridors and even an enclosed court. Now this magnificent
tent, never completely assembled before, is to be pitched in the Nicholas
Hall of the State Hermitage Museum. In addition there is another tent
to be set up which used to belong to a Turkish military commander and
is lavishly decorated with exquisite floral embroidery. Having been seized
as a trophy by Russian soldiers, it was used by the Russian army wagon
train for some decades before being delivered to the Court Stables Museum
in 1842. The Turkish tent, as well as the one from Bukhara, are to be
displayed at the State Hermitage Museum for the first time in history.
Of special interest are 69 works of the Indian art. Among them are the
famous Nader Shah’s gifts, consisting of masterpieces of Indian jewellery
dating from the 17th-18th centuries which the Persian ruler gained possession
of, before eventually presenting them to the Russian monarch. Most of
the items on display including fine fabrics, caskets and metalware have
never been displayed before.
The exhibition is also the debut for a number of authentic architectural
details that once used to adorn the Alhambra palace.
Works of applied art originating from the Kubachi village, Dagestan (mostly
- dating from the 14th century) are to be grouped separately. They include,
in the first place, reliefs and bowls decorated with figures of men and
animals. Pieces by Kubachi craftsmen are highly original and unlike any
other works of art coming from various cultural centres of the Islamic
World.
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Tent (detail)
Bukhara
Larger view
Flask with arabesque ligature
China
Larger view
Bottle
Iran
Larger view
Tray
Iraq
Larger view
Capital
Spain (Alhambra)
Larger view
Dish
Turkey
Larger view
Carpet
India
Larger view
Men’s dressing-gown
Bukhara
Larger view
Casket
India
Larger view
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