Palaces and Gardens of Persia

by Yves Porter, Arthur Thévenart

In both decoration and design, the grand buildings and gardens of traditional Persia consistently refer to "paradise." The very word itself refers to a sense of heavenly perfection, derived from an early Iranian term for "the Shah's royal hunting grounds."

The fine touches of heaven that lie behind the colorful tiled façades of palace pavilions and mosques still shine in this richly illustrated and scholarly work. Enter gardens with intricate fountains and majestic ponds fed by water that is sourced from underground aqueducts dating to the 6th century. From ancient mirrored shrines of Shiraz and geometric gardens of Kashan to the ornate domes of Ispahan, here is a glorious photographic timeline drawn in water, brick, and ceramic ornamentation along the 3,000 years of the region's architecture.

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Pavla Ripinskaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book is 10 year old, so today the objects on some photos are restored and look much better. But all in all the photos are amazing. Strongly recommended for all lovers of Iranian art. The book is not too scientific, contains quotations from the travelers of old times and leaves a good impression. Though is a bit superficial - looks more like an album, than a deep research.