Architectural Model Based on the Alhambra
19th century (?)
Medium
Plaster colored
Dimensions
H. 16 1/2 in. (41.9 cm) W. 11 5/8 in. (29.5 cm) D. 1 1/8 in. (2.9 cm)
Classification
Reproductions
Department
Islamic Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Richard M. Hunt, 1886
Accession Number
86.15.2
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate plaster model, crafted by Spanish sculptor Rafael Contreras in 19th century, captures intricate beauty of the Alhambra, legendary Moorish palace complex in Granada, Spain. Standing just 16½ inches tall, this colored reproduction showcases the hallmark Islamic architectural details—such as ornate arabesques, muqarnas (honeycomb vaulting), and geometric patterns defined Nasrid dynasty artistry from the 13th to 15th centuries.eras, who lived and worked at the Alhambra, became renowned for producing these precise scale models, which brought the site's splendor to European audiences d...