Simplicity and richness: the Royal Academy's first exhibition of Islamic art for over seventy years is a sumptuously beautiful blockbuster. From: Apollo | Date: March 1, 2005| Author: Scott, Philippa | COPYRIGHT 2005 Apollo Magazine Ltd. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group.Copyright information

The last time the Royal Academy hosted an exhibition which comes under the umbrella term 'Islamic' was its 1931 blockbuster 'International Exhibition of Persian Art', which, like 'Turks', included pre-Islamic art and influences, as well as many works of art created by non-Muslims living and working within what became predominantly Islamic environments. Since 1931 the RA has hosted 236 major exhibitions and many smaller shows, and seventy-four years have passed. Well, better late th...