{Islamic Cultural Influence}[14th April 1991]

[Redbook9:101][19910414:1104h]{Islamic Cultural Influence}[14th April 1991]

19910414:1104

[continued]

‘It is notable that the arts of the Islamic peoples have had relatively little impact on other cultures, certainly far less than their artistic merit would appear to warrant.

‘Europe has known art objects of Islamic origin since the early Middle Ages, when they were brought home by the Crusaders or manufactured by the Arabs in Sicily or Spain. Much admired and even imitated, they formed part of the material culture in those times, so much so that even the coronation robes of the German emperor were decorated with an Arabic inscription. At the same time, Islamic motifs wandered into the belles lettres of Europe, and Islamic scientific books formed a basis for the development of Western science. Islamic culture as such, however, was rather an object of hatred than admiration; a more objective appreciation of both the works of art and of literature did not start until the mid-17th century, when travelers** told of the magnificent buildings in Iran and Mughal India, and the first works from Persian literature were translated, influencing German classical literature. Indian miniatures inspired Rembrandt....’

***

*{[[Redbook9:156-158][19910421:1410]{Leo....}[21st April 1991],] 156}

**(sic)

**** – ibid [Encyclopaedia Britannica) 22:] 46

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