Drawings of Islamic Buildings.

The Alhambra

Granada, Spain
Built chiefly in the 13th and 14th centuries
The Alhambra (from the Arabic, Al Hamra, meaning The Red) is an ancient mosque, palace and fortress complex built by the Moorish monarchs of Granada, in southern Spain. The name is probably derived from the colour of the sun-dried tapia of which the outer walls are built.
After the Christian conquest of the city in 1492, alterations were made to the buildings within the Alhambra. In particular, Charles V rebuilt portions of the complex in the Renaissance style of the period, and destroyed the greater part of the winter palace to make room for a Renaissance-style structure which has never been completed. In subsequent centuries, Moorish art was defaced and some of the towers were blown up.
Napoleon in fact attempted to blow up the entire complex; however his plan was thwarted when a soldier, who wanted the plan of his commander to fail, decided to defuse the explosives and therefore saved the Alhambra for posterity.
The Moorish portion of the Alhambra resembles many medieval Christian strongholds in its three-fold arrangement of castle, palace and residential annexe for subordinates. The extremely intricate ornament detailing in the Moorish Alhambra stands in stark contrast with Charles V’s Renaissance palace which consists predominately of white walls and no particular striking features.

Charles Clifford, The Court of the Lions, Alhambra, albumen print photograph, about 1855. Museum no. 47:790

The celebrated Court of the Lions is an oblong court dominated in the centre by the Fountain of Lions, a magnificent alabaster basin surrounding by 12 lions in white marble. The twelve lions functioned as a clock with water flowing from a different lion each hour. The Christians of the Reconquest took apart the clock to see how it worked and it hasn't worked since.
The Hall of the Abencerrajes derives its name from a legend according to which Boabdil, the last king of Granada, having invited the chiefs of that illustrious line to a banquet, massacred them here. This room is a perfect square, with a lofty dome and trellised windows at its base. The roof is exquisitely decorated in blue, brown, red and gold, and the columns supporting it spring out into the arch form in a remarkably beautiful manner. Opposite to this hall is the Hall of the Two Sisters, so-called due to the two very beautiful white marble slabs laid as part of the pavement.

Owen Jones and Jules Goury, arched window from the volume ‘Plans, elevations, sections & details of The Alhambra’, published 1837. Museum no. 110.P.36

William Harvey, Drawing of the Alhambra, pen & ink, indian ink, watercolour and pencil. Museum no. E.1274-1963

 

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