Earliest use of Renaissance Era art innovations in Islamic countries & culture?

Question

Though the title may be vaguely broad, I have two specific things in mind I wanted to ask about. While I was recently considering the cultural and technological advancements of Europeans in the early Middle Ages, which was soon to be spread by them to the New World, I also began to consider Islamic history and cultural advancement at that same time (especially - for them - in areas of science, literature, and mathematics), and particularly in North Africa where some of the the Portuguese had contact and intermingled with Muslims through trade. So along parallel historical tracks I began to wonder at the comparative development between Renaissance Era European culture and Islamic culture at that time, and pursuant to that a few unusual questions arose in my mind. In particular I was wondering about two innovations of the Europeans of which I have never heard mention of their first use in the Islamic world (in terms of their initial adoption, though of course in the modern world there is hardly any distinction now): **Firstly**, use of the printing press; and **secondly**, the use of canvas (hemp-weaved) for painting (which first took off in Italy). In terms of technological advancement I'd say the former is more significant and utilitarian, while the argument about the "sophistication" of using canvas for art seems more subjective and preference driven (whatever its actual practical and aesthetic advantages may have been), though I still am curious about it. So to plainly state my two questions: 1. **When was the first recorded use of a printing press in Muslim lands?** (Note: *I am not asking what the first Islamic book printed on a printing press was, given that it might very well have been from a printing press operating in Europe. I want to know about actual adoption of the printing press in Muslim lands.*) 2. **What is the oldest known Islamic work of art composed on canvas?**It may be taken for granted now that Islamic countries use both, but since they appear to be exclusively European innovations at that time of the Renaissance Islamic adoption of it must have been taken from them at some later time. Islamic art was of course prolific at that time, but I've never heard of Islamic use of canvas during the Middle Ages, for example.Also, although I am especially interested to know the answer to those questions specifically in instances outside of the European continent, in terms of spread of influence I have to wonder if the Muslim held portions of Spain during the Renaissance Era were perhaps the earliest adopters of those technologies for printing and art.Can anyone provide at least a rough guess for when those two things first appeared in the Muslim world, even if we do not know the actual earliest instances precisely?

Answer 1

You're right to consider the parallel advancements and the eventual adoption of European technologies within the Islamic world. Let's address your two specific questions:

1. When was the first recorded use of a printing press in Muslim lands?

The introduction of the printing press to Muslim lands was a significantly delayed process compared to its rapid spread across Europe following Gutenberg's invention in the mid-15th century. Several factors contributed to this delay, including: 

1. Strong Calligraphic Tradition: Islamic culture held a deep reverence for the art of calligraphy and the handwritten word, particularly for religious texts like the Quran. The aesthetic and spiritual value placed on calligraphy created a cultural resistance to the perceived mechanical nature of printing. 
2. Religious Concerns: Initially, there were religious reservations about printing the Quran, fearing that mechanical reproduction might lead to errors or a lack of respect for the sacred text.
3. Guild Resistance: Scribes and manuscript producers held considerable influence and likely resisted the introduction of a technology that threatened their livelihoods.
4. Ottoman Restrictions: The Ottoman Empire, which controlled a vast portion of the Muslim world during the early Renaissance, initially placed restrictions on the establishment and operation of printing presses using Arabic script.

The First Recorded Use:

While there were some very early, limited attempts at printing in Arabic script within Europe (as you mentioned), the first sustained and officially sanctioned printing press in Muslim lands using Arabic script was established in the Ottoman Empire in the early 18th century.

Specifically, in 1727, under the patronage of Sultan Ahmed III and the efforts of Ibrahim Müteferrika, a Hungarian convert to Islam, a printing press was established in Istanbul. This press primarily focused on printing non-religious texts, such as dictionaries, historical works, and scientific treatises. 

It's important to note that there were earlier, sporadic instances of printing in Arabic script by Christian communities within the Ottoman Empire (e.g., in Aleppo and monasteries), but these were not initiatives of the Muslim population itself. 

Therefore, the answer to your question is that the early 18th century marks the first significant and officially sanctioned adoption of the printing press within Muslim lands, spearheaded by Ibrahim Müteferrika's press in the Ottoman Empire. This was considerably later than the widespread adoption in Europe. 

2. What is the oldest known Islamic work of art composed on canvas?

The use of canvas as a painting support was indeed a significant innovation of the Italian Renaissance, offering advantages in terms of portability, size, and durability compared to traditional wooden panels or plaster walls (for frescoes).

In the Islamic world, the dominant painting supports during the medieval and early modern periods were primarily:

1. Paper: For miniatures in illuminated manuscripts (common in Persia, India, and parts of the Ottoman Empire).
2. Walls: For murals and decorative paintings in palaces and other structures. 
3. Wood: Though less common than in Europe for large-scale paintings.

The Introduction of Canvas:

The adoption of canvas as a painting support in Islamic lands was a gradual process influenced by increasing contact with Europe through trade, diplomacy, and artistic exchange. It's difficult to pinpoint a single "oldest known Islamic work of art on canvas" with absolute certainty, as much of the early adoption might not have been systematically documented or preserved as prominently as traditional forms.

However, we can make some educated estimations:

1. Likely later than the Renaissance: Given that canvas became widespread in Italy during the 15th and 16th centuries, its significant adoption in the Islamic world likely occurred later, probably from the 17th century onwards, with increasing prevalence in the 18th and 19th centuries.
2. Influence through trade and European artists: Port cities and regions with significant European contact, such as parts of the Ottoman Empire bordering Europe or areas with active trade with European powers, would have been the most likely early adopters. European artists visiting or working in these regions might have introduced the technique.
3. Secular and possibly more "Westernized" contexts: Early uses of canvas might have been more common in secular art forms or in contexts where European artistic styles or techniques were being emulated.

Ottoman Influence and Beyond:

While the Muslim-held portions of Spain (Al-Andalus) were indeed a conduit for cultural exchange during the Middle Ages and early Renaissance, by the time canvas became a dominant support in Europe, the Reconquista was complete. Therefore, while there was earlier intellectual and artistic exchange, the direct adoption of canvas painting techniques likely occurred later through the Ottoman Empire and other points of contact.

Rough Guess:

Based on the historical context of European influence and artistic exchange, a rough guess for the earliest significant use of canvas for Islamic art outside of European-held territories would likely be no earlier than the 17th century, with more widespread adoption occurring in the 18th and 19th centuries. Finding a definitively "oldest" surviving example would require specialized art historical research focusing on the materials and supports used in Islamic painting during this transitional period.

It's important to remember that artistic traditions are often deeply rooted, and the shift to a new support like canvas would have taken time and depended on various factors, including the availability of materials (hemp weaving might not have been as prevalent in all Islamic regions as linen in Europe), the perceived aesthetic qualities, and the influence of external artistic trends. 

Your questions highlight the nuanced ways in which cultures interact and adopt innovations, often with delays and modifications based on existing traditions and values. The printing press, with its utilitarian and revolutionary potential, faced different hurdles than a change in artistic support, which was perhaps more gradual and aesthetically driven in its adoption.