Agra: Taj Mahal, Tomb Detail of windows
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Photographer: Arthur Llewellyn Basham
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Four of the five common Islamic decorational designs are carefully intermingled with Kashmiric, Bengali and Persian types for the ornaments of the Taj. We have previously mentioned the geometric designs
this is the first of the four elements. The second is the vegetal motifs, the delicacy of which is a Kashmiric innovation, and the third is the use of script as an abstract design to frame the openings of the windows (seen around the Mihrab shape to the left). Fourth, pure abstract forms run in the scale-like patterns seen on the slender minarets. These are highly common in Islamic building as well as Persian in a somewhat different application and are used to suggest three-dimensional surfaces where they do not necessarily exist. Notice that the Mihrab-shaped windows are deep and do not employ the jali screening to shut down their space. The clear cut design of the Taj as a whole dictates this measure. The recessed balconies are part of the Persian innovations mentioned above.
this is the first of the four elements. The second is the vegetal motifs, the delicacy of which is a Kashmiric innovation, and the third is the use of script as an abstract design to frame the openings of the windows (seen around the Mihrab shape to the left). Fourth, pure abstract forms run in the scale-like patterns seen on the slender minarets. These are highly common in Islamic building as well as Persian in a somewhat different application and are used to suggest three-dimensional surfaces where they do not necessarily exist. Notice that the Mihrab-shaped windows are deep and do not employ the jali screening to shut down their space. The clear cut design of the Taj as a whole dictates this measure. The recessed balconies are part of the Persian innovations mentioned above.
Keywords
Mughal Architecture-- Agra-- Taj Mahal, Agra, architecture, architectural ornament
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Basham Collection
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circa 1970s
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This item is provided for research purposes. Contact the Australian National University Archives at butlin.archives@anu.edu.au for permission to use.
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