The Alhambra

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However the author doesn’t change or simplify or distort the Alhambra patterns. This is KEY! Islamic Geometric patterns look a certain way, each shape has certain angles, symmetries and proportions that means that they are correct individually, they are correct together as a fuller pattern and correct as a system to draw many patterns. Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family. Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in. PATTERN INSTRUCTION: The hidden gem in this book is the short practical geometry section by Paul Marchant. There are four pattern constructions in this section, each one expanded with related the geometry illustrations in between. As there is an eightfold, fivefold pattern and 2 sixfold patterns, this section helps you to distinguish between the families of symmetry. I don’t think they are entirely accessible for absolute beginners but for those of you have drawn a little and are persistent, you’ll find enough information to draw these 4 patterns. For the more experienced, there are perhaps another 4 patterns dispersed throughout the book worth analysing. By Owen Jones (1809 – 1974), Welsh Architect, his early work on the Alhambra brought him to prominence, his seminal work, this design source book. He played a key role in the Great Exhibition of 1851 and also the precursor to the V&A Museum.

PATTERN INSTRUCTION: Yes, many! With access points for beginners and then many underlying grids showing the structure of patterns and their varlations. Based on a complex iconographic language , the coffered ceilings, ceramic work and plasterwork that decorate the different rooms of the Nasrid palaces show the perfection reached by Islamic architecture, while the elements introduced during the Christian period include numerous details typical of the Renaissance style. VERDICT: This is easier to follow than Daud Sutton’s book, but there are far fewer constructions (40 ish compared to 200 ish!). So I obviously have to have BOTH. I know some people are overwhelmed by these drawings that come with minimal or coded explanation. So this book is definitely pitched at a more basic level – very much suitable for beginners.

In 2017, Spanish animation producer Pedro Alonso Pablos made an animated miniseries featuring some of the Tales of the Alhambra: The Arab Astrologer, The three beautiful princesses and The rose of the Alhambra. Inevitably, the evolution of the palatine city went hand in hand with that of the Nasrid kingdom. In the 14th century, coinciding with the prosperous reigns of Yusuf I and Muhammad V, the fortress reached its peak, including new palaces intended to demonstrate the greatness of their developers. In contrast, in the 15th century, the decline of the sultanate was reflected by a drop in construction activity. VERDICT: I bought this book early on when I started learning to draw Islamic Geometric Patterns. It seemed ideal that such a book existed, so I dived in and drew lots. But as I did, some things seemed odd, but I didn’t know if it was me or the book. As I learned & discovered more I started noticing the errors and learnt of how to see errors from my more experienced friends and teachers. I was really disappointed, I lost trust in the content and stopped using it altogether. Later on, I did go through it and make note of the mistakes in the pattern index so I knew what's what.

PATTERN INSTRUCTION: Although there are dotted lines to show you the underlying grid ( the squares, rectangles triangles or hexagons and circles within them that give you an idea of the repeat

Just Alhambra

By the 5th century, the Germanic Visigoths had invaded from the north by land, but by the 8th century the peninsula had been invaded from the south by tribes from North Africa, including the Berbers, pushing the Visigoths northward. By 715, Muslims dominated the Iberian Peninsula, making Seville its capital. Two of the greatest examples of Western Islamic architecture still standing from this time include the Great Mosque of Cordoba (785) and Alhambra in Granada, which evolved over several centuries. There is something special about the way David writes about these times, the people, how they relate to each other, their broader interests/context, especially astronomy, technology, religion all with this connecting thread of geometry. I kept working out their ages to get a sense of them and how they linked to what came before and comes after. Writing about historical figures, when done well, brings these figures to life in such a beautiful relatable way. The beautiful generous illustrations are just wonderful, I'm so glad the book is the size it is! I didnt not know about Nuremberg and it felt so relevant to 2020, all those plagues and how they worked/evolved through them. By the time I'd reached Durer, I was so "pleased to meet him"! I really look forward to digging deeper in to the further reading list and looking up some of the names again.