DOI Artikel:
Majda, Tadeusz: Biblical Motifs in Islamic Art
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18949#0037
taken from the Koran: “How will we preach to a baby boy lying in a cradle?”
Jesus replied, “Verily I am the servant of God! He gave me the Book and madę
me a prophet [...]” (Sura XIX, verse 30). The Baptism of Christ appears in
only one miniaturę, in a work by Al-Biruni Monuments Remaining aft er Years
Gone by (Al-Athar al-baqiya min al-kurun al-khaliya). The artist set the baptism
in the surroundings of his contemporary reality, i.e. the 14th century. St. John
and Jesus are portrayed with Central Asian features.8
Islamie painting never depicts Christ as a teacher or as a miracle worker,
although many of Christ’s miracles are described in the Koran, for example
the completely set table sent from heaven (Sura V, verses 112-115) or the
Raising of Azir (the Raising of Lazarus, Jn 11:1-44). The story of the table
miraculously sent from heaven does not appear in the Gospels. There are
likewise miracles performed by Jesus recounted in other Islamie sources; for
example, in one of them Mary apprentices the twelve-year-old Jesus to a cloth
dyer. Each cloth is supposed to be dyed separately according to the colour
desired, but Jesus put all the cloths into a single kettle and each one emerged
dyed with the proper colour.
The Crucifixion is never encountered in miniaturę paintings. The Koran’s
version (Sura IV, verse 156) relates that the Jews crucified a phantom of Jesus
instead of Jesus himself, while he was simple taken to heaven (ill. 6). While
there is one Mughal miniaturę in which Jesus appears crucified, it is probably
a copy of a European painting or drawing. Depictions of the Ascension are
some of the most beautiful portrayals of themes taken from the gospels. The
compositions of these works are often very similar, with two angels with
exquisite wings supporting Jesus and lifting him up to heaven amidst clouds
in the shape of the little Chinese clouds favoured by Islamie painting (ill. 7).
There are also representations related to Islamie stories modelled on Christian
originals. These are miniatures illustrating the Finał Judgement or Jesus’
descent from heaven supported by two angels, who place him on a minaret.
This descent is linked with Jesus’ killing of Dajjal, a tempter connected with
Satan, who was supposed to appear before the end of the world and pretend
to be the Saviour.9 These various themes taken from the New Testament and
their depiction in miniaturę paintings testify that they constituted a lively and
rich tradition in Islamie art.
Translated by Robert Kirkland
8 Cf. Arnold, op. cit., p. XXVIIb.
9 Cf. M. And, Minyatiirlerler Osmanli-islam Mitologyasi, Istanbul 1998, p. 188.
Jesus replied, “Verily I am the servant of God! He gave me the Book and madę
me a prophet [...]” (Sura XIX, verse 30). The Baptism of Christ appears in
only one miniaturę, in a work by Al-Biruni Monuments Remaining aft er Years
Gone by (Al-Athar al-baqiya min al-kurun al-khaliya). The artist set the baptism
in the surroundings of his contemporary reality, i.e. the 14th century. St. John
and Jesus are portrayed with Central Asian features.8
Islamie painting never depicts Christ as a teacher or as a miracle worker,
although many of Christ’s miracles are described in the Koran, for example
the completely set table sent from heaven (Sura V, verses 112-115) or the
Raising of Azir (the Raising of Lazarus, Jn 11:1-44). The story of the table
miraculously sent from heaven does not appear in the Gospels. There are
likewise miracles performed by Jesus recounted in other Islamie sources; for
example, in one of them Mary apprentices the twelve-year-old Jesus to a cloth
dyer. Each cloth is supposed to be dyed separately according to the colour
desired, but Jesus put all the cloths into a single kettle and each one emerged
dyed with the proper colour.
The Crucifixion is never encountered in miniaturę paintings. The Koran’s
version (Sura IV, verse 156) relates that the Jews crucified a phantom of Jesus
instead of Jesus himself, while he was simple taken to heaven (ill. 6). While
there is one Mughal miniaturę in which Jesus appears crucified, it is probably
a copy of a European painting or drawing. Depictions of the Ascension are
some of the most beautiful portrayals of themes taken from the gospels. The
compositions of these works are often very similar, with two angels with
exquisite wings supporting Jesus and lifting him up to heaven amidst clouds
in the shape of the little Chinese clouds favoured by Islamie painting (ill. 7).
There are also representations related to Islamie stories modelled on Christian
originals. These are miniatures illustrating the Finał Judgement or Jesus’
descent from heaven supported by two angels, who place him on a minaret.
This descent is linked with Jesus’ killing of Dajjal, a tempter connected with
Satan, who was supposed to appear before the end of the world and pretend
to be the Saviour.9 These various themes taken from the New Testament and
their depiction in miniaturę paintings testify that they constituted a lively and
rich tradition in Islamie art.
Translated by Robert Kirkland
8 Cf. Arnold, op. cit., p. XXVIIb.
9 Cf. M. And, Minyatiirlerler Osmanli-islam Mitologyasi, Istanbul 1998, p. 188.