Tatar Shamai. Late 19th – Early 20th Century

The notion “shamail” defines easel by the form and religious by its content painting, based on the art of Arabic calligraphy. This genre of Islamic art was spread especially among Tatar-Muslims of Middle Volga region. Shamail reached its zenith here on the brink of XIX – XXth centuries. The book compiles, classifies and comments 103 Tatar shamails from state and private collections of Kazan and Moscow. According to the technique of implementation they are divided in two groups: shamails on glass and printed lithography. The catalogue is preceded with preliminary articles written by specialists in Islamic art and history of Tatarstan.