Abstract

The arts of the Mamluks are considered a particularly rich field of study stretching over a nearly three hundred year period. Diverse in their make-up, the progression and development of this art began with strong Ayyubid influences that quickly evolved into a style that was uniquely Mamluk. While many historians have argued that figural imagery all but disappeared in these later progressions of Mamluk art, most notably following the reign of the Mamluk sultan al-Nasir Muhammad (1309-1341), the reality of these conclusions is much more complex. Indeed, the lack of conclusively dated materials from these later periods has been a significant factor in these early claims regarding Mamluk figural imagery. However, given the recent study released by Rachel Ward that re-dated Medieval Syrian and Egyptian glass, as well as a careful reexamination of other portable arts of this period, it becomes clear that the production of anthropomorphic and zoomorphic imagery was by no means halted during the reign of al-Nasir Muhammad, but rather was relegated to artwork that did not bear the official court titulature of amirs and sultans. In this sense, figural imagery played a important, albeit secondary, role in the visual expressions of the Mamluk ruling elite.

Department

Arab & Islamic Civilizations Department

Degree Name

MA in Arabic Studies

Graduation Date

6-1-2014

Submission Date

5-30-2014

First Advisor

O'Kane, Bernard

Committee Member 1

Kenney, Ellen

Committee Member 2

Karim, Chahinda

Extent

97 p.

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Library of Congress Subject Heading 1

Art, Mameluke.

Library of Congress Subject Heading 2

Architecture, Mameluke.

Rights

The author retains all rights with regard to copyright. The author certifies that written permission from the owner(s) of third-party copyrighted matter included in the thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study has been obtained. The author further certifies that IRB approval has been obtained for this thesis, or that IRB approval is not necessary for this thesis. Insofar as this thesis, dissertation, paper, or record of study is an educational record as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 USC 1232g), the author has granted consent to disclosure of it to anyone who requests a copy.

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

Not necessary for this item

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