THE STORY OF MOSLEM ART

... is told almost as a travelogue of the Islamic countries. Following a brief introduction, which pinpoints the beginnings of the arts among the Arabs, the varieties of design are described in terms of the various cities and countries which are prominently Moslem, and have been selected in chronological order of their conquests. The area covers most of the Near and Middle East, but extends West to Spain, and east to Persia, India and China. Architecture, all types of crafts, as well as painting are described, along with frequent explanations of techniques. There are photographs of a representative selection of works. Unfortunately these are so small that much of the intricate detail has been lost. The author has provided a number of her own drawings of various design forms, which are quite helpful. The subject is broad, but the coverage is good, especially in linking together the artistic ties of this vast community.