Marcus Milwright: Writing Art History as Fiction: A Story of Islamic Art

It is a sign of the growing maturity of the field of Islamic art history that there are already many introductory surveys. Some attempt to cover all regions and periods, though it is more common for these books to establish chronological and geographical boundaries. More recently, introductions to the study of Islamic material and visual cultures have been offered in a variety of online formats. This talk discusses the value of a hybrid approach to the writing an introductory art-historical text, combining narrative fiction and academic research. Published at the end of 2023, A Story of Islamic Art charts the history of Islamic art and architecture through fifty case studies, the first dating to 660 and the last to 2020. The chosen objects and buildings encompass a broad range of dynasties and regions, with each chapter set in a different location. Art historical concepts are communicated to the reader through the interactions the four protagonists (two of whom are drawn from the Maqamat of al-Hariri) have with objects, structures, and people who made or commissioned them. The talk describes the diverse inspirations for the book and the decisions taken during the processes of research and writing. The conclusion offers reflections on the potential pitfalls of presenting speculative reconstructions of historical events and the motivations and attitudes of past cultures.