3-Mohammed Image Archive

8/3/2019 3-Mohammed Image Archive

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Mohammed Image Archive

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European Medieval and Renaissance Images

Medieval and Renaissance Christian and secular artists had no religious restrictions regardingdepictions of Mohammed, and were free to show his face and body in their entirety.

Illustration depicting a schematized Mohammed from an early medieval Latin translation of theKoran, from a manuscript in la Bibliotheque de l'Arsenal, in Paris. This may be the earliest

known depiction of Mohammed, possibly dating from the mid-12th century. This reproduction is

from the bookNaissance de l'Europe, by Robert S. Lopez (published 1962) (taken fromDeux

traductions latines du Coran, by Marie-Therese D'Alverny [published 1948]).(Hat tip: joker-x.)
http://www.zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive/http://www.zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive/http://www.zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive/http://www.zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive/


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Mohammed preaching, with historically inaccurate landscape and clothing (a common problem

in medieval and Renaissance paintings, which usually showed fashions contemporary with the

time the painting was made, rather than costumes of the era depicted).Illustration ca. 1400-1425,taken fromBoccaccio'sDe Casibus Virorum Illustrium(early 15th-century French translation by

Laurent de Premierfait); drawn by the "Master of Rohan." The manuscript is currently in the

Bibliothque Nationale de France. The same illustration in the context of its manuscript page can

be seenhere. According to the iconography of the time, the dove on Mohammed's shoulderindicates that he is a false prophet trying to convince his listeners that he is associated with the

Holy Spirit (of which the dove is a symbol).
http://expositions.bnf.fr/bestiaire/grand/c_14_bnf.htmhttp://expositions.bnf.fr/bestiaire/grand/c_14_bnf.htmhttp://expositions.bnf.fr/bestiaire/grand/c_14_bnf.htmhttp://gallica.bnf.fr/Catalogue/noticesInd/MAN00897.htmhttp://gallica.bnf.fr/Catalogue/noticesInd/MAN00897.htmhttp://gallica.bnf.fr/Catalogue/noticesInd/MAN00897.htmhttp://gallica.bnf.fr/Catalogue/noticesInd/MAN00897.htmhttp://www.zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive/euro_medi_ren/mediator.jpeghttp://www.zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive/euro_medi_ren/mediator.jpeghttp://www.zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive/euro_medi_ren/mediator.jpeghttp://www.zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive/euro_medi_ren/mediator.jpeghttp://gallica.bnf.fr/Catalogue/noticesInd/MAN00897.htmhttp://expositions.bnf.fr/bestiaire/grand/c_14_bnf.htm


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This picture is of an early Renaissance fresco in Bologna's Church of San Petronio, created by

Giovanni da Modena and depicting Mohammed being tortured in Hell.(Hat tip: brenda.)

In 2002,Islamic extremists plotted to blow up the churchin order to destroy the image.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/news/story/0,11711,742914,00.htmlhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/news/story/0,11711,742914,00.htmlhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/news/story/0,11711,742914,00.htmlhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/news/story/0,11711,742914,00.html


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The fresco is in an inaccessible part of the church and is now only visible at an angle from adistance; this old black-and-white image is one of the few official photos ever taken that shows a

straight frontal view of the figures.


5/17

This wooden sculpture in theChurch of Our Dear Ladyin Dendermonde, Belgium depictsMohammed on the ground, clutching the Koran, being trampled on by angels. As first reported at

The Brussels Journal, "The sculpture represents the triumph of Christianity over Islam." It was

carved by the 17th-century sculptor Mattheus van Beveren.(Hat tip: Matthias and foreign devil.)
http://www.planetware.com/dendermonde/church-of-our-dear-lady-interior-b-ov-liint.htmhttp://www.planetware.com/dendermonde/church-of-our-dear-lady-interior-b-ov-liint.htmhttp://www.planetware.com/dendermonde/church-of-our-dear-lady-interior-b-ov-liint.htmhttp://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/982http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/982http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/982http://www.planetware.com/dendermonde/church-of-our-dear-lady-interior-b-ov-liint.htm


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This photo shows the entire sculptural group, with the angels holding up the pulpit as they stand

on Mohammed.


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An earlier scene of Mohammed being trampled was depicted in this ca. 1500 woodblock print,

which was used and reused in various liturgical books of the era. It shows the allegorical Faith

("Foy") stepping on Mohammed ("Machomet") who presumably represents heresy or disbelief.The image on the left shows a closeup of the print, while the one on the right shows another

version of it in context on a manuscript page. A full series of images showing the traditionalVirtues stepping on historical tyrants can be foundhere(including Faith stepping on

Mohammed),here(Justice stepping on Nero),here(Force steps on "Holoferne") andhere

(Temperance steps on Tarquin).(Hat tip: Martin H.)
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/rbc/rbc0001/2006/2006rosen0451/0144v.jpghttp://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/rbc/rbc0001/2006/2006rosen0451/0144v.jpghttp://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/rbc/rbc0001/2006/2006rosen0451/0144v.jpghttp://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/rbc/rbc0001/2006/2006rosen0451/0145v.jpghttp://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/rbc/rbc0001/2006/2006rosen0451/0145v.jpghttp://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/rbc/rbc0001/2006/2006rosen0451/0145v.jpghttp://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/rbc/rbc0001/2006/2006rosen0451/0146v.jpghttp://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/rbc/rbc0001/2006/2006rosen0451/0146v.jpghttp://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/rbc/rbc0001/2006/2006rosen0451/0146v.jpghttp://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/rbc/rbc0001/2006/2006rosen0451/0147v.jpghttp://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/rbc/rbc0001/2006/2006rosen0451/0147v.jpghttp://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/rbc/rbc0001/2006/2006rosen0451/0147v.jpghttp://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/rbc/rbc0001/2006/2006rosen0451/0147v.jpghttp://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/rbc/rbc0001/2006/2006rosen0451/0146v.jpghttp://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/rbc/rbc0001/2006/2006rosen0451/0145v.jpghttp://lcweb2.loc.gov/service/rbc/rbc0001/2006/2006rosen0451/0144v.jpg


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This 1508 engraving by Dutch artist Lucas van Leyden illustrates a legend about Mohammedthat circulated in Europe during the medieval era; according to a1908New York Times article

which reprinted this image, "The famous print of the year, 1508, is an illustration of the story of

the Prophet Mohammed and the Monk Sergius. Mohammed, when in company with his friend

Sergius, drank too much wine and fell asleep. Before he awakened a soldier killed Sergius and

placed the sword in Mohammed's hand. When the prophet wakened the soldier and hiscompanions told him that while drunk he had slain the monk. Therefore Mohammed forbade the

drinking of wine by his followers." A high-resolution reproduction of this engraving can beviewedhere, and a museum catalog listing giving all its specifics is here, which states the current

location of the print as the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.(Hat tip: Martin H.)
http://bibelen.blogspot.com/2008/04/drunken-mohammed.htmlhttp://bibelen.blogspot.com/2008/04/drunken-mohammed.htmlhttp://bibelen.blogspot.com/2008/04/drunken-mohammed.htmlhttp://bibelen.blogspot.com/2008/04/drunken-mohammed.htmlhttp://bibelen.blogspot.com/2008/04/drunken-mohammed.htmlhttp://bibelen.blogspot.com/2008/04/drunken-mohammed.htmlhttp://images.lunaimaging.com/images/AMICA/Size4/FASF/fasf.311121.jpghttp://images.lunaimaging.com/images/AMICA/Size4/FASF/fasf.311121.jpghttp://images.lunaimaging.com/images/AMICA/Size4/FASF/fasf.311121.jpghttp://www.davidrumsey.com/Amico/amico617158-49382.html#recordhttp://www.davidrumsey.com/Amico/amico617158-49382.html#recordhttp://www.davidrumsey.com/Amico/amico617158-49382.html#recordhttp://www.davidrumsey.com/Amico/amico617158-49382.html#recordhttp://images.lunaimaging.com/images/AMICA/Size4/FASF/fasf.311121.jpghttp://bibelen.blogspot.com/2008/04/drunken-mohammed.htmlhttp://bibelen.blogspot.com/2008/04/drunken-mohammed.html


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Here's a close-up detail of the same picture, showing Mohammed asleep on the left and the

soldier on the right placing the sword on his lap. Notice, as usual, Mohammed's anachronistic

and culturally inaccurate clothing.

.


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Thechurch in the town of Gothemon the Swedish Island of Gotland features this wall painting,

which depicts (from left to right) the Pope, St. Christopher, baby Jesus, and Mohammed.

According tothis scholarly paper (pdf file), "An early example of how Muhammad was used in

the early reformation comes from a wall painting in the Gothem church on Gotland (an island

situated on the East coast of Sweden) from the middle of the 16th century. The painting depictsSt Christopher, Jesus as a child, the Pope and Mohammad. St Christopher caries the child on his

shoulder, saving it from the water in which the Pope and Muhammad perish. How do we

understand this painting? The propaganda is directed towards Catholicism. The drowning,nameless pope is humiliated by being associated with Muhammad and Islam; the false prophets

perish together."

The photos seen here were taken by a Danish photographer and originally posted on a site that isno longer online.(Hat tip: Martin.)

Link directly to this section about the Gothem church paintings.
http://www.stavar.i.se/churches/gothemeng.htmlhttp://www.stavar.i.se/churches/gothemeng.htmlhttp://www.stavar.i.se/churches/gothemeng.htmlhttp://inhouse.lau.edu.lb/bima/papers/Jonas_Otterbeck.pdfhttp://inhouse.lau.edu.lb/bima/papers/Jonas_Otterbeck.pdfhttp://inhouse.lau.edu.lb/bima/papers/Jonas_Otterbeck.pdfhttp://www.zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive/euro_medi_ren/#gothemhttp://www.zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive/euro_medi_ren/#gothemhttp://www.zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive/euro_medi_ren/#gothemhttp://inhouse.lau.edu.lb/bima/papers/Jonas_Otterbeck.pdfhttp://www.stavar.i.se/churches/gothemeng.html


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Swedish articles, thetwotheseup detail of the Mohammed figure. According to-Here is a closeGothem church paintings were undergoing renovation when the Danish cartoon controversy

broke, and local experts, fearful that Islamists would attack the church, began to claim that the

painting depicts not Mohammed the Prophet, but instead the Ottoman Sultan Mohammed IV

), who had a similar style of mustache. But Mehmet IV was SultanMehmed IV(better known asduring the failed Seige of Vienna in the late 17th century, which was over a century after the

painting is thought to have been created. More likely is that the artist drew Mohammed the

Prophet sporting the type of mustache that was popular at the time the painting was made.Interestingly, these wall paintings were probably made during the period that Gotland was part of

Denmark, making this the original Danish Mohammed cartoon.(Thanks to Martin for the translations.)
http://www.zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive/euro_medi_ren/#gothemhttp://www.zombietime.com/mohammed_image_archive/euro_medi_ren/#gothemhttp://gt.helagotland.com/GEN_Sok.asp?ArticleID=1149892http://gt.helagotland.se/GEN_Sok.asp?ArticleID=1149888http://gt.helagotland.se/GEN_Sok.asp?ArticleID=1149888http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mehmed_IVhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mehmed_IVhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mehmed_IVhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mehmed_IVhttp://gt.helagotland.se/GEN_Sok.asp?ArticleID=1149888http://gt.helagotland.com/GEN_Sok.asp?ArticleID=1149892


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1700s, and is-was made in the midJacob Haid-JohanThis mezzotint print by German artist

.hereseensize image can be-almost certainly a portrait of Mohammed. A larger(Hat tip: Martin.)
http://www.oldmasterprint.com/xxah.htmhttp://www.oldmasterprint.com/xxah.htmhttp://www.oldmasterprint.com/xxah.htmhttp://www.oldmasterprint.com/xxah.htmhttp://www.oldmasterprint.com/xx/xxah4.jpghttp://www.oldmasterprint.com/xx/xxah4.jpghttp://www.oldmasterprint.com/xx/xxah4.jpghttp://www.oldmasterprint.com/xx/xxah4.jpghttp://www.oldmasterprint.com/xxah.htm


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Mohammed preaching, while wearing European-style Renaissance attire; an illustration from the

.blic LibraryNew York Puon of the(ca. 1475). In the collectiChroniques martiniennesbook

Colored Renaissance print showing Mohammed at court, with wildly inaccurate fashions. FromMorse, originally published in 1493. This illustration is from theThe Nuremberg Chronicle

edition.Library, Beloit College(Hat tip: Jheka.)

The following two peculiar line drawings show Mohammed dressed in Renaissance-era Germangarb and not behaving as one might expect:
http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgdisplaylargemeta.cfm?trg=1&strucID=251360&imageID=427306&total=113&num=0&word=Mohammed&s=1&notword=&d=&c=&f=&lWord=&lField=&sScope=&sLevel=&sLabel=&imgs=12&pos=2http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgdisplaylargemeta.cfm?trg=1&strucID=251360&imageID=427306&total=113&num=0&word=Mohammed&s=1&notword=&d=&c=&f=&lWord=&lField=&sScope=&sLevel=&sLabel=&imgs=12&pos=2http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgdisplaylargemeta.cfm?trg=1&strucID=251360&imageID=427306&total=113&num=0&word=Mohammed&s=1&notword=&d=&c=&f=&lWord=&lField=&sScope=&sLevel=&sLabel=&imgs=12&pos=2http://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgdisplaylargemeta.cfm?trg=1&strucID=251360&imageID=427306&total=113&num=0&word=Mohammed&s=1&notword=&d=&c=&f=&lWord=&lField=&sScope=&sLevel=&sLabel=&imgs=12&pos=2http://www.beloit.edu/~nurember/book/images/People/Early_Christian_Medieval/index.htmhttp://www.beloit.edu/~nurember/http://www.beloit.edu/~nurember/book/images/People/Early_Christian_Medieval/index.htmhttp://www.beloit.edu/~nurember/http://www.beloit.edu/~nurember/book/images/People/Early_Christian_Medieval/index.htmhttp://www.beloit.edu/~nurember/http://www.beloit.edu/~nurember/book/images/People/Early_Christian_Medieval/index.htmhttp://www.beloit.edu/~nurember/book/images/People/Early_Christian_Medieval/index.htmhttp://digitalgallery.nypl.org/nypldigital/dgdisplaylargemeta.cfm?trg=1&strucID=251360&imageID=427306&total=113&num=0&word=Mohammed&s=1&notword=&d=&c=&f=&lWord=&lField=&sScope=&sLevel=&sLabel=&imgs=12&pos=2


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"His Wife Scolding the Drunken Mohammed," German woodcut print, c. 1481. Source (for thisimage and the one below): The Illustrated Bartsch. Vol. 83, German Book Illustration before1500: Anonymous Artists, 1481-1482. Series title:Reysen und Wanderschaften durch das

Gelobte Land / Travels and Wanderings Through the Holy Land.(Hat tip for this image and for the following image: Brett K.)


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"Mohammed Cursing the Vines," German woodcut print, c. 1481. Presumably Mohammed iscursing the vines for producing the grapes that got him drunk.

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