DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7431#0009
A
v r <
Xh e Antiquities of the Spanish Arabs have, for many ages, continued unheeded or unknown. The annals of past centuries
scarcely deign to mention them : and the descriptions of modern pens but imperfectly supply the place of the pencil.
Accurate delineations, so essential to render them intelligible, might have been expected from the enlightened natives of the
Peninsula, whose artists and antiquarians have vied with the most celebrated of other countries. The task, however, was
supinely deferred, or feebly attempted, while prejudice, the sad inheritance of nations, was actively employed in demolishing
the works of infidels, whom it was accounted both pious and popular to deride.
The suffrages of the discerning few, and especially of Bayer and Casiri, at length contributed to remove, or at least to
mitigate, this prejudice, and to arrest the progress of destruction. In consequence of the representations made by these pro-
foundly learned and virtuous men, the Royal Academy of St. Ferdinand was commissioned by the Spanish Government to
send two architects under the direction of a Captain of Engineers, with instructions to make drawings of the Palace of
Alhamra, and of the Mosque of Cordova. After a lapse of several years, the joint labours of the three Academicians were
published at Madrid, in the year 1780, in a folio volume intituled, Antiguedadas Arabes de Espana ; containing about six-
teen plates of Arabic designs, together with a few pages of letter-press. Some of the inscriptions in this publication were
translated by the accurate Casiri. Such was the greatest progress made, to the end of the eighteenth century, in exploring
the antiquities of the polished and enlightened people, who occupied the Peninsula, during a period of nearly eight
hundred years.
The interesting but imperfect descriptions of the remains of Arabian Art, exhibited in the volumes of some modern tra-
vellers, as existing in the once renowned Mohammedan cities of Granada, Cordova, and Seville, excited in the author an
ardent desire to visit them. He accordingly embarked for Spain, and arrived at Cadiz early in May, in the year 1802;
whence he proceeded to Granada, through lower Andalusia.* The Governor of the Alhamra, desirous that the knowledge
of its splendid architectural remains should be accurately transmitted to posterity, obligingly facilitated the author's access to
that royal palace, at all hours of the day; while he was employed in the agreeable task of measuring and delineating its
interior works. Equal facilities were offered at Cordova, the remains of whose celebrated Mosque and Bridge are delineated
in the former part of the present volume. Seven years were unremittingly devoted to these delightful pursuits; and since
the author's return to England in 1809, nearly seven years more have been wholly given to preparing for publication the
present work.
The admirers of the Arts are here presented with the result of fourteen years continued labour, executed at an expense of
many thousand pounds;—in the hope that, by the union of the graphic art witlr the descriptions of the engravings annexed,
such facilities will be afforded, as shall enable the reader to form an accurate estimate of the very high state of excellence,
to which the Spanish Arabs attained in the Fine Arts, while the rest of Europe was overwhelmed with ignorance and
barbarism.
* j . . . ■', c fup Arts the late Earl of Bristol, the author with pleasure records, that his Lordship had it in contemplation to
In justice to the memory of an eminent and noble patron ot the Arts, ui ' v . , « . . , rpi:nnu:shed the idea nnlv on
,„mltwni)n , 1 j pninf.e of Alhamra, and to publish them at his own expense. The Earl ot Bristol rehnquisnea tne idea, only on
senu two Koman artists to Granada, to make designs ot the 1 alace 01 » r r
u0- • r . . . , Ll „ ,t . , i,uat the author had anticipated his munificent intention,
being intormed by the letter of a friend who was visiting that city, tnai
v r <
Xh e Antiquities of the Spanish Arabs have, for many ages, continued unheeded or unknown. The annals of past centuries
scarcely deign to mention them : and the descriptions of modern pens but imperfectly supply the place of the pencil.
Accurate delineations, so essential to render them intelligible, might have been expected from the enlightened natives of the
Peninsula, whose artists and antiquarians have vied with the most celebrated of other countries. The task, however, was
supinely deferred, or feebly attempted, while prejudice, the sad inheritance of nations, was actively employed in demolishing
the works of infidels, whom it was accounted both pious and popular to deride.
The suffrages of the discerning few, and especially of Bayer and Casiri, at length contributed to remove, or at least to
mitigate, this prejudice, and to arrest the progress of destruction. In consequence of the representations made by these pro-
foundly learned and virtuous men, the Royal Academy of St. Ferdinand was commissioned by the Spanish Government to
send two architects under the direction of a Captain of Engineers, with instructions to make drawings of the Palace of
Alhamra, and of the Mosque of Cordova. After a lapse of several years, the joint labours of the three Academicians were
published at Madrid, in the year 1780, in a folio volume intituled, Antiguedadas Arabes de Espana ; containing about six-
teen plates of Arabic designs, together with a few pages of letter-press. Some of the inscriptions in this publication were
translated by the accurate Casiri. Such was the greatest progress made, to the end of the eighteenth century, in exploring
the antiquities of the polished and enlightened people, who occupied the Peninsula, during a period of nearly eight
hundred years.
The interesting but imperfect descriptions of the remains of Arabian Art, exhibited in the volumes of some modern tra-
vellers, as existing in the once renowned Mohammedan cities of Granada, Cordova, and Seville, excited in the author an
ardent desire to visit them. He accordingly embarked for Spain, and arrived at Cadiz early in May, in the year 1802;
whence he proceeded to Granada, through lower Andalusia.* The Governor of the Alhamra, desirous that the knowledge
of its splendid architectural remains should be accurately transmitted to posterity, obligingly facilitated the author's access to
that royal palace, at all hours of the day; while he was employed in the agreeable task of measuring and delineating its
interior works. Equal facilities were offered at Cordova, the remains of whose celebrated Mosque and Bridge are delineated
in the former part of the present volume. Seven years were unremittingly devoted to these delightful pursuits; and since
the author's return to England in 1809, nearly seven years more have been wholly given to preparing for publication the
present work.
The admirers of the Arts are here presented with the result of fourteen years continued labour, executed at an expense of
many thousand pounds;—in the hope that, by the union of the graphic art witlr the descriptions of the engravings annexed,
such facilities will be afforded, as shall enable the reader to form an accurate estimate of the very high state of excellence,
to which the Spanish Arabs attained in the Fine Arts, while the rest of Europe was overwhelmed with ignorance and
barbarism.
* j . . . ■', c fup Arts the late Earl of Bristol, the author with pleasure records, that his Lordship had it in contemplation to
In justice to the memory of an eminent and noble patron ot the Arts, ui ' v . , « . . , rpi:nnu:shed the idea nnlv on
,„mltwni)n , 1 j pninf.e of Alhamra, and to publish them at his own expense. The Earl ot Bristol rehnquisnea tne idea, only on
senu two Koman artists to Granada, to make designs ot the 1 alace 01 » r r
u0- • r . . . , Ll „ ,t . , i,uat the author had anticipated his munificent intention,
being intormed by the letter of a friend who was visiting that city, tnai