Islamic arts emerged as early as the 7th century, largely inheriting the artistic traditions of Byzantium, which at that time dominated the Mediterranean basin and the Middle East.
Indeed, the first Islamic monuments, particularly mosques, clearly reflect the profound influence of the Byzantine Empire, whether in their architectural plans, their decorative elements, or the materials used.

This Byzantine legacy is visible through the use of mosaics, stylized floral motifs, and geometric designs derived from late antique models.
However, far from merely imitating these existing forms, Islamic art transformed them, creating a new identity aligned with the spiritual and cultural demands of Islam.

Under the rule of the Mamlouk sultans (1250–1517), Egypt and Syria experienced one of the most brilliant golden ages of Islamic art.
This period saw the emergence of an artistic production of exceptional richness and diversity, driven by the active patronage of sovereigns and elites.

Polychrome glass, with its vivid colors and refined motifs, bears witness to the technical genius of the workshops of the time.
Calligraphy — the supreme art of Islamic culture — adorned both monuments and everyday objects, affirming both faith and power.
The subtle art of governance was expressed through prestigious works commissioned to assert the legitimacy of the sultans and to inscribe their memory in stone, metal, or paper.

The illuminated poems in manuscripts recount, through images and words, moralistic fables and sometimes praise the patron sultans, while the masterpieces of sacred illumination, particularly Qur’anic manuscripts, express a profound spiritual quest.
This artistic golden age thus reflects a unique moment where politics, religion, and art intertwined in a dazzling cultural creation.

For the first time in Europe, the Louvre Museum is dedicating a major exhibition to the Mamlouk Sultanate, which ruled from 1250 to 1517 over Egypt, Syria, and a large part of the Islamic Near East.
This exceptional exhibition offers a journey into the heart of a golden age of art and culture, still little known, revealing the abundant richness of an empire situated at the crossroads of Europe, Africa, and Asia.

Entitled "Mamlouks," the exhibition brings together nearly 260 works — precious textiles, illuminated manuscripts, ivories, artworks, and carved stones — from the most prestigious public and private collections.
Through this journey, the Louvre unveils a civilization where military power rivaled the elegance of the arts, between crusades, trade routes, and lavish patronage.

During this lecture, we will analyze in detail the exhibition’s scenography, its spatial design choices, and the ways in which it creates a vivid immersion into the Mamlouk world.
We will highlight the key points of the exhibition path, establishing connections with other major works preserved in France and abroad, to reposition Mamlouk art within a broader dialogue between cultures.

A special focus will be given to two iconic masterpieces of this exhibition:
the famous Baptistère of Saint Louis, an exceptional testimony to artistic exchanges between East and West,
and a Florentine piece revealing the cross-cultural influences between Renaissance Italy and the courts of the Mamlouk sultans.

Through this critical and sensitive approach, the lecture will offer a valuable interpretive key to better understand the artistic, historical, and cultural stakes of a period as brilliant as it was complex.

This workshop, designed for children (ages 8 to 12), offers a fun and educational experience centered around Islamic Arts. Children will listen to captivating stories and tales, discover various artistic techniques through simple and adapted explanations. They will engage in fun coloring activities, play interactive games based on artworks, and enjoy assembling puzzles and solving riddles that spark their imagination and develop their analytical skills. In a joyful and educational atmosphere, children will dive into the world of art and creativity.