This book aims to throw light on some aspects of the Arabesque art, with respect to its various definitions and the successive stages of its historical development; it analyzes its structure, aesthetical aspects, and the theoretical and practical developments related to it, with due regard to its relationship with Islamic architecture, as well as with calligraphy and ebru (marbled paper), and its applications with floral or geometrical decorations on materials such as metal, wood, pottery, embroidery and on carpets and kilims. The book also reviews the various types of arabesque peculiar to different countries; it assesses the economic conditions surrounding it, its development prospects, and the influence it exerted on European arts starting from the fall of Granada until the advent of contemporary arts.
Taking into consideration the importance of this art and the studies devoted to it by artists and orientalists, the book has been prepared in a way to review the various definitions and explanations that emerged in different periods of history and the various names given to it. These names often implied varying characteristics that were acquired by this art in different epochs in addition to the established classical meanings. Thus the reader will find in it information on the terminology used in this field, presented in alphabetical order, as well as detailed bibliographies of the sources used by the authors. The volume is enriched by colour illustrations (270 colour photographs) showing the richness of this art and its applications in Islamic architecture, calligraphy, ebru, stucco coloured glass, engravings on wood, mother-of-pearl and other materials, silver jewelry, miniatures, ceramics, embroidery, batik, carpets and kilims, painting on silk, textiles, leatherwork, copper work and the other areas of crafts. Thus, this book can be considered as a comprehensive scholarly reference on the art of Arabesque under its various aspects.
