Islamic Art: Silk Animal Carpet

Write a research paper between 5 and 7 pages, doubled spaced, in 12pt font with no more than one inch margins. The paper must contain footnotes and a bibliography of at least three scholarly texts and/or articles beyond the course text. General Websites are not considered valid sources! Please include an image of the artwork you are discussing. The paper should contain a visual analysis of the object in which you fully describe the work following the guidelines listed below in the section “Specific Guidelines.” Then state the results of your research by discussing the object’s function, significance, and meaning.

1. Fully identify the work by noting what is written on the museum’s label. Your identification of the work should include: Name of object, date, country, material, and dimensions.
2. Describe the work you have chosen simplistically, i.e. what is it? Describe the object in a most basic way.
3. Consider the treatment of the work. Some pertinent aspects to consider are: proportion, symmetry, structure, movement (or lack of), and texture.
4. Discuss the expression of feeling (in the work), the relationship to the viewer, and relationship of one figure to another (if there is more than one).
5. Discuss the function of the work. Some questions to consider: Is this a religious/ritual object or is it a secular work? What is its role in the society from which it comes? What was it used for?
6. Discussion your research findings using footnotes which relate to your bibliography. Footnotes should be in short format including only the last name of the author the page number.

1. Aesthetics
2. Fully describe the object.
3. What are its defining characteristics?
4. How does the form mirror the objects function?
5. Technique: how was the object created?
6. Function
7. Is this a secular or religious object?
8. What is its function?
9. How does the object’s function relate to its form?
10. Historical Context.
11. When was the object created?
12. What dynasty and what country was the object created and what can this tell us about the object?
13. Why was the object of significance to the culture?