Behind the Veil:
The Arts of Islamic Persia
Lecturer: John Osborne
Iran
has a sophisticated cultural heritage ignored in the headlines.
The main part of the lecture illustrates the development of the
spectacular architecture in the mosques and palaces of
Iran, with an emphasis on their
brilliant tilework and painting, through the Islamic period until the
end of the 19th century. There are mentions of some of Persia’s classic
gardens, and the art of book illustration is also included, with
beautiful examples from the classic period of Persian miniature
painting.
The lecture mentions the geographical and political background,
explains how the Shi’a form of Islam originated and became the ruling
creed in the late 20th century Iran of Aytollah Khomeini, and thus puts
the contemporary situation in the context of the country’s fascinating
and significant cultural history.
