This collection of essays on Islamic art and architecture in the nineteenth century covers a wide geographical area and draws together different regional elements. The essays devote much attention to social, political, economic and intellectual issues, including the role of tradition and responses to European aesthetics, among them the appropriation of orientalism and the rise of revivalist movements.

Following the tradition and style of the acclaimed Index Islamicus, the editors have created this new Bibliography of Art and Architecture in the Islamic World. The editors have surveyed and annotated a wide range of books and articles from collected volumes and journals published in all European languages (except Turkish) between 1906 and 2011. This comprehensive bibliography is an indispensable tool for everyone involved in the study of material culture in Muslim societies.

Unlock the more straightforward side of Persian Letters with this concise and insightful summary and analysis! This engaging summary presents an analysis of Persian Letters by Montesquieu, which tells the story of the Persian noblemen Usbek and Rica, who have travelled to Europe in pursuit of knowledge. In the course of their travels, they encounter a range of striking characters, discover new customs and reflect on the differences between Eastern and Western ways of life and political systems. Meanwhile, trouble is brewing in Usbek’s seraglio back in Persia, as his wives seize the opportunity provided by his absence to rebel... Persian Letters is one of the 18th-century writer and philosopher Montesquieu’s most famous works, alongside his seminal political essay The Spirit of Laws, which paved the way for the development of modern democracy. Find out everything you need to know about Persian Letters in a fraction of the time! This in-depth and informative reading guide brings you: • A complete plot summary • Character studies • Key themes and symbols • Questions for further reflection Why choose BrightSummaries.com? Available in print and digital format, our publications are designed to accompany you on your reading journey. The clear and concise style makes for easy understanding, providing the perfect opportunity to improve your literary knowledge in no time. See the very best of literature in a whole new light with BrightSummaries.com!

Portrait sculptures are among the most vibrant records of ancient Greek and Roman culture. They represent people of all ages and social strata: revered poets and philosophers, emperors and their family members, military heroes, local dignitaries, ordinary citizens, and young children. The Met's distinguished collection of Greek and Roman portraits in stone and bronze is published in its entirety for the first time in this volume. Paul Zanker, a leading authority on Roman sculpture today, has brought his exceptional knowledge to the study of these portraits; in presenting them, he brings the ancient world to life for contemporary audiences. Each work is lavishly illustrated, meticulously described, and placed in its historical and cultural context. The lives and achievement of significant figures are discussed in the framework of the political, social, and practical circumstances that influenced their portrait's forms and styles—from the unvarnished realism of the late Republican period to the idealizing and progressively abstract tendencies that followed. Analyses of marble portraits recarved into new likenesses after their original subjects were forgotten or officially repudiated provide especially compelling insights. Observations on fashions in hairstyling, which typically originated with the Imperial family and spread as fast as the rulers' latest portraits could be distributed, not only edify and amuse but also link the Romans' motives and appetite for imitation to our own. More than a collection catalogue, Roman Portraits is a thorough and multifaceted survey of ancient portraiture. Charting the evolution of this art from its origins in ancient Greece, it renews our appreciation of an connection to these imposing, timeless works.