About this sheet
Antique Comparative Minarets Print, Bursa, Istanbul, Damascus & Cairo, Raymond, 1924
This original architectural plate presents a fascinating comparative study of Islamic minaret forms from Bursa, Istanbul, Damascus, and Cairo. Published as Plate 42 in Alexandre M. Raymond's monumental L'Art Islamique en Orient – IIe Partie, the sheet forms part of one of the most important early twentieth-century surveys of Islamic architecture across the eastern Mediterranean and the Ottoman world.
The composition brings together a series of minarets spanning more than five centuries, rendered at a scale of 1:200. Included are examples from the Mosque of Mahmud II at Tophane in Constantinople (1790), the Hodja Taïb Mosque (1400), the Yeşil Djami (1420), the Ulu Djami (1389–1413), the Mouradié Mosque (1447), the Osman Ghazi Mosque (1400), the Great Mosque of Damascus, and the Mosque of Kait Bey in Cairo from the fifteenth century.
By placing these monuments side by side, Raymond reveals the evolution and regional diversity of Islamic architectural forms. The elegant, needle-like Ottoman minarets of Bursa and Istanbul contrast dramatically with the monumental tiered structures of Mamluk Cairo and the distinctive proportions of Syrian examples. The plate offers a rare visual history of how local traditions, materials, and dynastic identities shaped one of the defining symbols of Islamic architecture.
The monuments represented here encompass some of the most important periods of Islamic civilization, from the early Ottoman state in Bursa to the refined Mamluk architecture of Egypt. The comparison highlights both shared artistic principles and regional interpretations of geometry, proportion, and ornament.
Alexandre M. Raymond meticulously recorded these structures during his architectural studies throughout Turkey and the Middle East. His publications remain indispensable references for historians, architects, collectors, and scholars of Islamic art.
The soft palette of pale blues, grays, and warm terracotta gives the sheet exceptional decorative appeal while maintaining its scholarly character.
This print is entirely original and dates from 1924. It is sold unframed. Any framed illustrations are shown for visual inspiration only.
Condition: Good original condition with age-related toning, scattered foxing, light marginal wear, and minor handling marks consistent with age. The printed image remains fresh and attractive with excellent preservation of color and detail.
Framing recommendations: The broad horizontal format is ideally suited to a wide ivory museum mat and a dark walnut or ebonized frame with subtle gilt detailing inspired by Ottoman interiors. Museum glass is recommended for long-term conservation.
Original antique print. Sold unframed. Framed images are for display inspiration only.
