See Below - Islamic Art and Architecture - 1976-2007

1. L’art de la céramique dans l’architecture musulmane, George Degeorge and Yves Porter, Flammarion, 2001, 286 pages in French, Hardcover, out of print

L’art de la céramique dans l’architecture musulmane by Gérard Degeorge and Yves Porter is a richly illustrated French-language art book exploring the use of ceramic decoration across the Muslim world from Spain and the Maghreb to Iran, Turkey and the Indian subcontinent. It highlights how ceramic tiles, panels and ornamentation became integral to Islamic architecture, adorning mosques, madrasas, minarets, palaces and tombs with intricate motifs and advanced glazing techniques. The authors combine historical context, artistic analysis and technical detail, tracing stylistic evolution and regional variations while explaining the craftsmanship, materials and production methods behind these decorative traditions. The emphasis is both on the visual splendour of the work and its cultural significance as a testimony to centuries of artistic innovation in predominantly Muslim societies. Vibrant colour illustrations accompany texts situating monuments in their historical, artistic and technological context. This volume is considered a notable reference on Islamic architectural ceramics and is published in hardcover by Flammarion (2001).

2. L’Art de l’Islam en Méditerranée d’Istanbul à Cordoue, Henri Stierlin, Grund, 2005, 295 pages in French, Hardcover
L’Art de lIslam en Méditerranée offers a sweeping visual and historical journey through the art and architecture of the Islamic world from Istanbul in the east to Córdoba in the west, spanning roughly the 7th to the 16th centuries. The book showcases how Islamic civilisation left rich artistic legacies across the Mediterranean, from grand mosques and madrasas to intricate decorative motifs found in calligraphy, geometry, tilework and architectural ornamentation. It highlights the contributions of major dynasties—such as the Umayyads, Abbasids, Fatimids, Mamluks, Almohads and Ottomans—whose cultural and scientific achievements are reflected in monumental works like the Alhambra, the Great Mosque of Córdoba and the Süleymaniye in Istanbul. Over 400 colour photographs by Anne and Henri Stierlin illustrate the breathtaking diversity of Islamic artistic expression, emphasising both aesthetic innovation and historical context. The narrative connects artistic production to broader cultural and intellectual currents, making the book both a reference and a richly engaging visual exploration of Mediterranean Islamic art.

3. Architecture Maure en Andalousie, Taschen, Marianne Barrucand and Achim Bednorz, 2002, 240 pages in French, Softcover
Architecture Maure en Andalousie presents a richly illustrated survey of Moorish architecture in the former Islamic region of al-Andalus (southern Spain), covering roughly the period from the early 8th century (the Umayyad conquest) to the end of Muslim rule in 1492. The book explores how Islamic architectural traditions evolved in the cities of Córdoba, Seville, Granada and others, blending influences from North Africa, the Middle East and local Iberian craftsmanship. Key monuments such as the Great Mosque of Córdoba, the Alcázar of Seville and the Alhambra of Granada are analysed for their structural innovations, decorative programmes and symbolic meanings. In addition to major mosques and palaces, the authors discuss urban design, water management and the role of geometry and ornamentation in creating expressive yet functional spaces. With numerous colour photographs, plans and diagrams, the volume not only documents architectural masterpieces but also situates them in their historical, cultural and artistic context, making it valuable for students, scholars and lovers of Mediterranean Islamic art and architectural history.

4. Découvrir l’art Islamique en Méditerranée, EdiSud,2007, 269 pages in French, Hardcover
Découvrir l’art islamique en Méditerranée is a comprehensive, richly illustrated introduction to the artistic and cultural heritage of Islamic civilisation across the Mediterranean. Written by a collective of 39 scholars, museum curators and heritage specialists from Europe, North Africa and the Near East, the book spans 13 centuries of history, from the time of the Prophet Muhammad to the end of the Ottoman Empire (1922). It maps major artistic and architectural achievements—covering monuments, objects and visual traditions—across regions that include Iberia, North Africa, the Levant and Anatolia. The text emphasises that there is no single narrative of Islamic art, but rather a plurality of histories shaped by diverse peoples and cultures. With dozens of colour plates and hundreds of illustrative examples from more than 1,200 sites and 40 European museum collections, the volume seeks to deepen understanding not only of aesthetic forms but also of historical context, cultural exchange and interpretation. It complements the Virtual Museum of Islamic Art project and related exhibitions, offering readers a broad, accessible perspective on Mediterranean Islamic art.

5. Le monde de l’Islam sous la direction de Bernard Lewis, l’histoire et les cultures musulmanes de Mahomet à la crise du pétrole, Elsevier,1976, 367 pages in French, Hardcover
Le monde de lIslam is a comprehensive historical and cultural overview of the Islamic world from the time of the Prophet Muhammad through to the 20th-century oil era. Edited by renowned historian Bernard Lewis, the volume brings together contributions from leading scholars to examine the political, social and intellectual development of Muslim civilisations. It traces the early expansion of Islam in the 7th century, the establishment of major empires and cultural centres, and the rich tapestry of religious life, law, art and science that emerged across the Middle East, North Africa, Spain and Asia. The book situates Islamic history within broader world developments, analysing how Muslim societies interacted with neighbouring cultures, how governance and scholarship evolved, and how historical turning points shaped successive eras. Illustrated with numerous black-and-white and colour figures, the text provides both narrative depth and visual context, making it useful not only for students of history but also for general readers interested in the civilisational breadth of the Islamic world.