Dr. Ana Marija Grbanovic (-ć)

Ana Marija Grbanovic is a Postdoc Research Associate/Principal Investigator for the German Research Foundation - DFG-funded international research project Iranian Medieval Wall Paintings (IWP), at the Centre for Heritage Conservation Studies and Technologies (KDWT) of University of Bamberg. She was previously PostDoc Fellow of the Women Scientists' Representatives Office of University of Bamberg at the Centre for Heritage Conservation Studies and Technologies (KDWT). Grbanovic was a Research Associate and PhD candidate in History of Islamic Art and Archaeology at the University of Bamberg. Her PhD work titled: Ilkhanid Stucco and Tile Revetment in Iran; circa 1300. Function, Meaning and Aesthetic Principles, was supervised by Professor Lorenz Korn (first supervisors) and Professor Scott Redford (London, SOAS; second supervisor). Grbanovic obtained her MA degree in History of Art and Architecture of the Islamic Middle East at the University of London’s School of Asian and African Studies (SOAS) in 2014. Her MA dissertation titled: A Re-examination of the Ilkhanid Buq’a Pir-e Bakran’s Decoration and its Aesthetics was supervised by Professor Doris Behrens Abouseif. Grbanovic obtained her BA in Preservation of Artistic and Architectural Heritage from the University of Udine in 2012 with the BA dissertation researching Ottoman mosques in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

EDUCATION

Since 01.11.2023-

PostDoc Research Associate and Principal Investigator for the German Research Foundation (the DFG) Project: Medieval Wall Paintings in Iran, 10-14th centuries. Art Historical Research of Vanishing Cultural Heritage, at the Centre for Heritage Conservation Studies and Technologies (KDWT), University of Bamberg.
 

2024-present

VHS Bamberg (Vocational School Bamberg), Modern Turkish Language Beginners’ Course (2 Semesters completed).
 

2022-2023

Euro-Schulen Bamberg (Euro Schools Bamberg), German Language TELC C1, course and examination, 300 hrs.
 

01.10.2022-30.09.2023

PostDoc Research Fellow at the Centre for Heritage Conservation Studies and Technologies (KDWT), University of Bamberg.
• supported by the Step by Step-Scholarship of the Women’s Representatives Office at the University of Bamberg.
 

2015-2022

PhD: Islamic Art and Archaeology at the University of Bamberg, Bamberg, Germany. 
• PhD dissertation: Ilkhanid Stucco Revetments in Iran; c. 1256-1335. Function, Meaning and Aesthetic Principles. First supervisor: Prof. Dr. Lorenz Korn, Second supervisor: Prof. Dr. Scott Redford, Third examiner: Prof. Dr. Paul Bellendorf.
• Grade: Magna cum Laude (1,00).
 

2018

Isfahan University, Advanced Intensive Course of Persian language, 106 hrs. (Sponsored by the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes)
 

2017

Isfahan University, Advanced Intensive Course of Persian language, 108 hrs. (Sponsored by the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes)
 

2016

LSI Bochum. Intermediate/Advanced Intensive Course of Modern Standard Arabic, 80 hrs. (Sponsored by the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes)
 

2015

Institut Bourguiba des Langues Vivantes, Tunis, Tunisia. Intermediate Course of Modern Standard Arabic, 80 hrs.
 

2014

Qalam wa Lawh language institute, Rabat, Morocco.  Intermediate Course of Standard Modern Arabic, 80 hrs.
 

2013-2014

MA: SOAS, School of Oriental and African Studies, London, UK.
• Thought MA in History of Art and Architecture of the Islamic Middle East.
• Modules taken (full time): Ottoman Art, Arab Painting, Art and Architecture of the Fatimids, Introduction to Modern Standard Arabic.
• MA dissertation: A Re-examination of the Ilkhanid Buq’a Pir-i Bakran’s Decoration and its Aesthetics. Supervisor: Prof. Doris Behrens-Abouseif.
• Graduation: Distinction. Grade average (from the Transcript): 77.9.
 

2007-2011

BA: Università degli Studi di Udine, Udine, Italy.
• Three year Undergraduate course: Preservation of Artistic and Architectural Cultural Heritage.
• The BA also included courses of: History of Islamic Art, Archaeology and Architecture, History of Islamic Miniature, (Dr. Martina Rugiadi, Prof. Giovanni Curatola).
• BA dissertation (awarded all points): Some Bosnian Ottoman Mosques. Supervisor: Prof. Giovanni Curatola.
• Graduation: 110 cum laude (equivalent to First Class Honours).
 

2005 - 2007

International High school: United World College of the Adriatic, Italy.
 

PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS, EMPLOYMENT, VOLUNTEERING

since 01.11.2023 

PostDoc Research Associate and Principal Investigator for the German Research Foundation (the DFG) Project: Medieval Wall Paintings in Iran, 10-14th centuries. Art Historical Research of Vanishing Cultural Heritage, at the Centre for Heritage Conservation Studies and Technologies (KDWT), University of Bamberg (100% position; E13, 40 hrs/week).
 

since 2024

Research Network, member of steering committee, Mittelbaukonvent initiative, University of Bamberg.
 

2020-2024

Radiation Protection Representative - SSB (SSB- Strahlenschutzbeauftragte nach Strahlenschutzgesetz, University of Bamberg).
 

2019-2022

Research Associate at the Islamic Art and Archaeology, University of Bamberg, 67% position (E13) in the DFG-funded project “Stucco and Tiles.”
 

2019

Certification of Expertise (Fachkunde im Strahlenschutz) - Technician According to § 47 Radiation Protection Ordinance (Strahlenschutz Verordnung), Regierung von Oberfranken, September 2019.
 

2019

Radiation Protection Course (Strahlenschutzkurs, Sachkunde) for acquisition of expertise according to X-radiation Protection Ordinance (Röntgenverordning); R2.2, August 20-22, 2019, Servantech.
 

since 2019

Elected Secretary of the Ernst Herzfeld Society for Studies in Islamic Art and Archaeology (administration, member of the steering committee, review activities).
 

2018

Contract based Lecturer, “Architecture in Iran 13-14th centuries: Ilkhanid Architecture and Architectural Decoration,” Summer Term 2018, Oriental Institute, Islamic Art and Archaeology, BA and MA course.
 

2018

International Symposium of Islamic Art and Archaeology at the University of Bamberg, “I Love Persian Stucco. Lectures and Practical Workshop,” University of Bamberg, 10-12th April 2018, Scientific Assistant for conference organization employed by IPID for All (DAAD).
 

2017

Contract based Lecturer, “A History of Ottoman Architecture,” Summer Term 2017, Oriental Institute, Islamic Art and Archaeology, BA and MA course.
 

2016

International Symposium of the Bamberg Graduate School of Near and Middle Eastern Studies, Scientific Assistant for conference organization employed by IPID for All (DAAD).
 

2015-2019

Volunteer Interpreter for Syrian Asylum Seekers and Grantees: interpretation of language courses, interpretation of medical visits for female and children.
 

2015-2016

Scientific Assistant at the University of Bamberg, funded by the University of Bamberg Commission for Research and Young Academics (Ständige Kommission für Forschung und wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchs - FNK).
 

2008-2016

Agencija Oskar, Slovenia, Contract-based Tourist Guide (130-150 working days per year, 5-27 day long tours). Destinations of tourist guiding: Cuba, Morocco, Italy (Sicily), Romania, Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan. Comprising remote work as Travel Itinerary Commercialist.
 

2009-2019

EU Tourist Guide License, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Slovenia (Tourist Guide license for non-EU countries).
 

2009-2011

Scuola di Lingue “Il Centro,” Pordenone, Italy. Contract based Translator of art historical texts, web pages and documents (English to Italian, Italian and English to Slovenian).
 

2008

Università degli Studi di Udine, Italy. Part-time Librarian in the Department of Humanities Library.

Since 01.11.2023

 
Research Grant by the German Research Foundation (the DFG) for research project: Medieval Wall Paintings in Iran, 10-14th centuries. Art Historical Research of Vanishing Cultural Heritage, at the Centre for Heritage Conservation Studies and Technologies (KDWT), University of Bamberg.
 

2023

Project Preparation Grant for field research campaign in Bulgaria, Greece, Albania, Kosovo and North Macedonia (3 weeks, 4 team members); the University of Bamberg Commission for Research and Young Academics (Ständige Kommission für Forschung und wissenschaftlichen Nachwuchs - FNK); in collaboration with Dr.-Ing. Tobias Arera-Rütenik (Historic Building Archaeology).
 

2022-2023

Postdoc Fellow of Women’s Representatives Office at the University of Bamberg (Step by Step Postdoc Scholarship), October 1, 2023 – September 30, 2023.
 

2020

Trainee Grant (COST Action CA18129) for Training School “Islamic Heritage in Europe,” IS-LE CA 18129 Islamic Legacy: Narratives East, West, South, North of the Mediterranean (1350-1750); University of Granada; January 14-16, 2020.
 

2016-2019

PhD Studies Scholarship awarded by Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes, Germany.
 

2019

Awarded Brill Prize for the best paper in History of Islamic Art and Architecture at the Symposia Iranica, University of St Andrews, April 2019.
 

2015

Awarded Brill Honourable Mention for the best paper in History of Islamic Art and Architecture at the Symposia Iranica, University of Cambridge, April 2015.
 

2014

Ralph Pinder Wilson research grant for the MA dissertation research. Travel to Iran, by the Department of the History of Art and Archaeology, SOAS.
 

2013

Commencement; 2013 Photography Competition; London Institute for the Middle East.
 

2007 - 2008      

Awarded a Scholarship for the BA studies (Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region, Italy).
 

2005-2007

Awarded a Scholarship for international high school education at the UWC of the Adriatic (Ministry for Culture and Education, Italy).
 

2003-2011

Awarded Zoisova Štipendija, a Scholarship for academically excellent 
Students (Ministry for Culture and Education, Slovenia).
 

January 2020

Training School “Islamic Heritage in Europe,” IS-LE CA 18129 Islamic Legacy: Narratives East, West, South, North of the Mediterranean (1350-1750); University of Granada; January 14-16, 2020.

October 2018

European Research Infrastructure for Heritage Science Training Camp 2018 – Innovazione e Archaeologia il Sito e i Reperti di Monte Sannace conservati al museo di Gioia del Colle. Innovative Techniques for Diagnostics, Conservation and Valorisation of Cultural Heritage (XRF, LIBS, Raman, 3D Reconstruction, Colorimetry, LIF). Corso di Alta Formazione con Concorso per Partecipazione – Advanced Training Course with Competition for Participation.

Winter 2016

Saint Laurentius Chapel, Bamberg. Monitoring, research and documentation of the state of preservation of architectural revetments, University of Bamberg.
 

Winter 2016

Kapuziner Strasse 24, Bamberg. Research, soundings and cleaning of Baroque stuccos and wall painting revetments, Private Commission.
 

Winter 2015

Saint Martin Church, Bamberg. Statues, altars and furniture protections installation for restoration interventions, Private Commission.
 

Autumn 2015

Bamberg Dominican Church Wall Paintings Restoration interventions, University of Bamberg.
 

CONFERENCE ORGANIZATION

2025 

International conference: “Islamic Medieval Wall Paintings: An Interdisciplinary Approach,” collaboration with Ass. Prof. Dr. Agnieszka Lic (Polish Academy of Sciences), in preparation for September 4-5, 2025.
 

2022

International conference: “Stucco Decoration in the Architecture of Iran and Neighbouring Lands: New Research – New Horizons,” University of Bamberg, May 5-7, 2022.
 

2018

International Symposium of Islamic Art and Archaeology at the University of Bamberg, “I Love Persian Stucco. Lectures and Practical Workshop,” University of Bamberg, April 10-12, 2018.
 

2016

International Symposium of the Bamberg Graduate School of Near and Middle Eastern Studies, “The Orient(s) - Diversity of a Region and Dangers of its Scholarly Representations,” University of Bamberg, November 25-26, 2016.

INVITED LECTURES
 
202-

“Research of Wall Painting Craftsmanship and Artistic Techniques from Persianate Lands to the Balkan Peninsula: Towards a Multidisciplinary Research,” Universität Frankfurt, 13.05.2025. (in German) Forthcoming.
 

2022

“Ilkhanid Carved Stucco: Art, Artists & Aesthetics in Medieval Persia,” the Khalili Research Centre, University of Oxford, January 18, 2024.
 

2022

“Art, Artists and Aesthetics: Ilkhanid Stuccos in Iran c. 1300,” Gesellschaft der Freunde islamischer Kunst und Kultur and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, January 19, 2023. (presented in German)
 

2019

“Some Notes on Medieval Iranian Monuments and their Architectural Revetments,” American University in Beirut, October 4, 2019.
 

2019

“The Mausoleum of Pir-i Bakran and its Architectural Revetments: an Art Historical Perspective,” Art University Isfahan, April 9, 2019.

CONFERENCE PAPERS, PODIUM DISCUSSIONS

202- 
“Towards a Corpus of Medieval Persianate Wall Paintings, 10-14th Centuries: Report Concerning Emerging Research Finds,” Deutsche Orientalisten Tag, Universität Erlangen, September 10-13, 2025. Forthcoming.
 

202-“Medieval Wall Paintings in Iran: a Trans-regional Phenomenon?” on-line conference, Islamic Medieval Wall Paintings: Towards an Interdisciplinary Approach, Bamberg und Krakow, September 4-5, 2025. Forthcoming..
 

202-“Voicing the Less-known: Exploring the Corpus of Medieval Persianate Wall Paintings,” Annual Colloquium of the Ernst Herzfeld Society for Studies in Islamic Art and Architecture, American University in Cairo, July 3-6, 2025. Forthcoming..

202- 
“Archaeology of the Iranian Medieval Wall Painting Corpus (10-14th centuries): Wall Painting Technology Knowledge Exchange and Transfer,” 14th International congress on the archaeology of the Ancient Near East, Universität Lyon, June 2-7, 2025. Forthcoming.

2024

“Colourful Mosques and Tekiyyas in Ottoman Balkans: A Uniquely Balkan Phenomenon?” 19th Colloquium of the Ernst Herzfeld Society for Studies in Islamic Art and Archaeology, Glass in the Islamic World, Vitrocentre Romont, Switzerland, July 4-6, 2024.
 

2024

“The “Great Chinggisid Crisis:” Reflections based on Research of Architectural Decorations in Carved Stucco and Wall Painting Media in Iran and the Neighbouring Lands,” Decline and Transition in the History of the Fourteenth Century’s Chinggisid Khanates, University of Bonn, June 7-8, 2024.
 

2024

“Some Remarks and Recommendations for Examination of Mediterranean Stuccos, Based on Research of Medieval Persian Carved Stuccos, Tiles and Wall Paintings,” Connecting Stucco in the Mediterranean (c. 300 BCE- c. 1200 CE) Methodological approaches and the State of Research, Bilkent University, Ankara, May 16-18, 2024.
 

2024

“Lonely and Forlorn? Nakhchivan’s Alinja Khanqah and its Architectural Decorations,” Production, Transmission, & Interpretation, a conference on Islamic Art, Architecture, History, and Archaeology, University of York, March 12-15, 2024.
 

2023

“Medieval Wall Paintings in Iran, 10-14th Centuries Art Historical Research of Vanishing Cultural Heritage,” Islamic Art History Network (IAHN) - Islamic Art History Days 2023, University of York, November 24-25, 2023.
 

2023

“Johannes Eberhard Wulff and Research of Carved Stuccos in Iran,” 10th European Conference of Iranian Studies (ECIS10), Leiden University, Netherland, August 21-25, 2023.
 

2023

“The ‘Abd al-Samad Complex in Natanz and its Stuccos: Art, Artists and Aesthetics,” The complex of ‘Abd al-Samad, Natanz: contexts & décors, Aix-en-Provence, March 30, 2023.
 

2023

“Colourful Mosques and Tekiyyas in Ottoman Balkans: the Case of the Dissonant Architectural Heritage Necessitating an Interdisciplinary Re-examination for Cultural Heritage Preservation,” Negotiating Islamic Legacies in Europe: Concepts, Heritages, and Comparative Approaches, Benaki Museum of Islamic Art, Athens, January 17, 2023.
 

2022

“Henry Viollet’s Photographic Documentation of Ilkhanid Stucco Revetments in Iran and its Significance for Art Historical Research,” Through the Lens of Henry Viollet: Islamic Monuments through an Undisclosed Archival Material (1904-1913), CNRS und BULAC, Paris, June 23, 2022.
 

2022

“Uljaytu’s Mausoleum at Sultaniyya and its Architectural Revetments,“ Stucco Decoration in the Architecture of Iran and Neighbouring Lands: New Research – New Horizons, University of Bamberg, May 4-7, 2022.
 

2022

“A Re-examination of the Stucco Mihrab from the Pir Husayn Khanqah (13-14th centuries, Hajiqabul, Qubalıbalaoğlan, Azerbaijan),” 8th International Congress of Young Archaeologists, University of Teheran, February 22-24, 2022. (to be presented in Persian) Forthcoming.

2021

“Far from Eye, Far from Heart: Some Notes Concerning Ilkhanid Stucco Polychromy,” Workshop Colour in Islam: Understanding Textual and Visual Historiographies of Colour in Inter-Disciplinary Perspective, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, October 22-23, 2021.
 

2021

“Lost and Found: The Ilkhanid Tiles of the Pir-i Bakran Mausoleum (Linjan, Isfahan),” Ceramics from Islamic Lands, the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, July 19-23, 2021.
 

2021

“In Memoriam Hasankeyf: Some Remarks Regarding the Stuccos of Hasankeyf Monuments,” Ernst Herzfeld Society Annual Colloquium, Main Panel, University La Sapienza Rome, July 1-4, 2021.
 

2021

“Between Tradition and Innovation: The Art of Ilkhanid Stucco Revetment in Iran,” The 12th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East - ICAANE, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy, April 6-9, 2021.
 

2021

“Ilkhanid stuccoes in Iran c. 1300: Beyond the stylistic idiosyncrasies,” A Carved History: New Researches on Medieval Iranian Stucco (8th – 14th c.) Online round table and conference, Institute of Iranian Studies, Austrian Academy of Sciences, January 15th & 22th, 2021.
 

2020

“Open Access Photo Editing Software for Studies of Islamic Art,” Workshop on Digital Tools in Oriental Studies Bamberg and Erlangen, July 4, 2020.
 

2019

“Carved Letters, Designs and Ornaments: Ilkhanid Stuccos and “Signatures” of their Craftsmen,” Inscriptions from the Islamic World, September 6-9, 2019, American University in Cairo.
 

2019

“Ilkhanid Architectural Interiors and their Re-decoration Interventions: Obscurum per Obscurius?” Symposia Iranica 2019, April 13-14, University of St. Andrews. Awarded: Brill First Prize for the best paper in History of Islamic Art and Architecture.
 

2019

“The (In)Tangible: Ilkhanid Stucco Revetments and their Creative Genii,” HIAA Majlis at Silsila, NYU, February 15, 2019.
 

2018

“The Oljeitu Mihrab (1310; Isfahan): the Ilkhanid Stucco 
Chef-d’œuvre Re-Examined,” Ernst Herzfeld Society Annual Colloquium, Main Panel, University of Straßburg, July 5-7, 2018.
 

2018

“Interdisciplinary Approach for Understanding of 16th century Bosnian Ottoman mosque Architecture and Builders’ Identity and Migration,” Forsche(nde) Frauen 2018, Kolloqium zum Thema Beziehungen, University of Bamberg, June 12, 2018.
 

2018

“Stucco Revetment Research for Cultural Heritage Preservation: The Haftshuyeh Friday mosque,” International Symposium, I Love Persian Stucco, Lectures and Practical Workshop, University of Bamberg, April 10-12, 2018.
 

2018

“Beyond the Stylistic Idiosyncrasies: Identity and Mobility of Ilkhanid Stucco Craftsmen in the Isfahan region circa 1300,” The 11th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East – the ICAANE, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, April 3-7, 2018.
 

2017

“Silk Routes Cosmopolitanism of the Iranian Ilkhanid Architecture and its Preservation: History, Challenges and Perspectives,” International Congress, Preserving Transcultural Heritage: My Way or Your Way?, University of Lisbon, July 5-8, 2017.
 

2017

“Some Considerations Regarding the Study Approaches to Polychrome Aesthetics of the Stucco Revetments: The Case of the Pir-i Bakran Mausoleum,” University of Kashan Conference Stucco Revetment in Iranian Architecture of the Islamic Period, April 22-23, 2017, Kashan, Iran. (presented in Persian)
 

2017

“Lessons Learned from the Oljeitu’s Mihrab for the Understanding of Ilkhanid Stucco Revetment Craftsmanship, Polychromy and Aesthetics,” Symposia Iranica, University of Cambridge, April, 11-12, 2017.
 

2017

“Islamic Stuccos made Digital,” DFG funded Conference: Neue Forschungsgegenstände und Methoden? Wie Digitalität die Geisteswissenschaften Verändert, University of Bayreuth, March 23-24, 2017.
 

2016

“The Role of Stucco Polychromy in the Ilkhanid Aesthetics of Architectural Revetment: The Stucco Mihrab of the Pir-i Bakran mausoleum (1299-1313; Linjan; Esfahan; Iran),” Ernst Herzfeld Society Annual Colloquium, Graduate Meeting, Berlin, June 2016.
 

2015

“A Re-examination of the Ilkhanid Buq’a Pir-i Bakran’s Decoration and its Aesthetics,” Symposia Iranica, University of Cambridge, April 8-9, 2017. Awarded: Brill Honourable Mention for the best paper in Architectural History.
POSTER PRESENTATIONS

2021 
Lorenz Korn, Ana Marija Grbanovic, Iman Aghajani, “Aesthetics of Stucco and Tiles. Archaeometric and Art Historical Perspectives on Architectural Decoration in Iran, 11th-14th centuries,” The 12th International Congress on the Archaeology of the Ancient Near East - ICAANE, University of Bologna, April 6-9, 2021.

• Iranian Islamic Architecture and Architectural Revetments

• Architectural Revetments Aesthetics and Stucco Polychromy

• Preservation of Cultural Heritage

• Use of Digital Technology for Research in Islamic Art and Architecture

• Destruction of Architectural Heritage and Theory of Restoration Interventions

• Ottoman Architecture in Anatolia

• Ottoman Architecture in South-eastern Europe Focusing on Religious Minorities

• Islamic Ceramics

• Historic Building Archaeology

• Use of Artificial Intelligence for Research of Islamic Material Culture

• Provenance Research of Museum Objects (Tiles)
   

Medieval Wall Paintings in Iran, 10-14th centuries. Art Historical Research of Vanishing Cultural Heritage

Architectural decoration in wall painting artistic techniques was a widespread decorative medium for religious and secular monuments in 10-14th centuries, in the territory of Iran and the neighbouring lands, together with carved stuccos, applied moulded and stencilled stuccos and tiles. Removal of tiles to Western collections and their accessibility to scholars, enabled their research from an early point. Recent years witnessed an intense scholarly interest in carved stucco medium. However, wall paintings of Medieval Iran lack a systematic art historical study, which would determine their understanding and prompt conservation interventions on this art medium worthy of research, documentation and preservation. The proposed project accordingly focuses on some twenty-four wall painting programmes from monuments in diverse regions of Iran and a wide chronological span covering approximately five centuries. The project is interdisciplinary and it encompasses four main disciplines, which provide for the full comprehension of the research subject: studies of artistic technology, history of art and aesthetics, preservation and conservation of cultural heritage and social history. This approach enables a thorough comprehension of the subject, provides reasons indicating why and how wall paintings should be preserved and it proposes finds of interest for other disciplines such as sociology, social history and anthropology. For example, epigraphic programmes and visual features of wall paintings reflect the religious and social characteristics of the society in which they were produced. Furthermore, research of wall painting medium has the potential to provide information regarding the craftsmen who produced them: composition of craftsmen’s workshops, and craftsmen’s identity and mobility routes for production of wall paintings. Wall paintings are also interesting for studies of history of religion, social status of artists who produced them, and patrons who sponsored production and construction of monuments with these decorative repertoires.

The proposed innovative art historical research of wall paintings in Medieval Iran is first of its kind in terms of geographical and chronological scope and the use of cutting-edge research approach designed within the limits of project’s dimensions. This research project draws on research methodology which has been developed during Applicant’s PhD research of 13-14th century stucco decorations in Ilkhanid Iran (this research was part of the “Stucco and Tiles” DFG-funded project at the Professorship for Islamic Art and Archaeology at the University of Bamberg’s Oriental Institute). Gathered experience of research approach and methodology for research of carved stuccos have been further improved and upgraded for the proposed research of wall paintings. The proposed research of wall paintings is therefore based on experience of field research in Iran and with research methodology which proved to be successful for research of a related and yet distinct decorative medium of Iranian Medieval architecture.

DFG-GEPRIS Projektinformationen

Islamic Medieval Wall Paintings: Towards an Interdisciplinary Approach

on-line, September 4-5, 2025

Wall painting decorations are one of the par excellence decorative media used in monuments in the Islamic lands, starting with the early Islamic period (transition from late Antique traditions). In the medieval period, wall paintings were particularly frequently employed to decorate monuments in the Islamic lands, with further separate and more regional developments in the modern period. In sum, wall paintings were a widespread and trans-regional medium of medieval Islamic architectural decorations. Recent years witnessed surge in research of Islamic stuccos. Moreover, Islamic tile decorations are well researched, due to their removal from architectural structures and availability in museum collections globally. Research of Islamic medieval wall paintings has so far been performed in a sporadic manner in terms of their geographical and chronological context. Wall paintings have mainly been addressed in form of case studies of single monuments or surveys limited to restricted geographical units. This state of art has been impacted by several factors. Firstly, the dichotomy and language barriers between Eastern and Western Islamic lands, or Arabic, Persian and Ottoman regions. Secondly, wall paintings largely remain in situ and their study and research depend on access to the lands of their location. Thirdly, the subject of wall paintings seems to have been overshadowed by the scholarly attention at architectural structures, rather than their architectural decorations pertaining to the given architectural context. In this respect, wall paintings have mainly been studied in the context of dating evidence for buildings, thus leaving out aspects of their aesthetics, function and meaning. Wall paintings also pose a methodological challenge. So far, little is known about their materiality, especially binders, as well as pigments, and artistic techniques. This knowledge is necessary for informed conservation interventions for their preservation. Moreover, wall paintings need to be researched in their architectural context, where they fulfilled a specific meaning and function from the moment of their production to the present times. We often encounter monuments with architectural decorations in distinct artistic media. In this context, wall paintings can be combined with stuccos or tiles, or other media, to form a multimedia architectural decorative programme, with specific visual hierarchy and distinct roles of the media, which still need to be thoroughly comprehended.

The proposed conference has been designed to fill the outlined gaps and to transcend the mentioned dichotomies, and to ultimately improve our understanding of Islamic medieval wall paintings as well as to make advancements in research methodology of the subject. In order to transcend the traditional boundaries and limitations of the field of Islamic architectural history, and to develop approach and research methodology of the given field, the conference has been envisioned as an interdisciplinary event. In doing so, the conference will provide a platform for a lively interdisciplinary discussion of Islamic medieval wall paintings from perspectives of Islamic art history, building archaeology, manuscript studies, cultural heritage preservation sciences, archaeometry, conservation sciences, heritage studies and archaeology. Experts in diverse fields will interact with each other, exchange their knowledge, and develop new ideas and professional ties. In keeping with recent trends, and to develop our research fields further, we encourage all authors to also consider integrating aspects of gender and diversity research into their presentations. In doing so, we will address our research question: how to study Islamic wall paintings in an interdisciplinary manner? This research has wider methodological implications, because it addresses the question of integration of cultural heritage sciences and technologies in the field of Islamic art and architectural history. We will shed light on structural and conceptual challenges of interdisciplinary approach, and we will propose solutions which may be implemented for future generations of scholars.

Grbanovic, Ana Marija (2023): Ilkhanid Stucco Revetments in Iran, c. 1256-1335 : Function, Meaning and Aesthetic Principles, Bamberg: Otto-Friedrich-Universität, doi: 10.20378/irb-90074. 

2018

“Architecture in Iran 13-14th centuries: Ilkhanid Architecture and Architectural Decoration,” University of Bamberg, Summer Term 2018, Oriental Institute, Islamic Art and Archaeology, BA and MA course.
 

2017

“A History of Ottoman Architecture,” University of Bamberg, Summer Term 2017, Oriental Institute, Islamic Art and Archaeology, BA and MA course.