Architectural Model Based on the Alhambra 19th century

This architectural model of the Alhambra was made by Rafael Contreras at an unknown date using an unknown medium. The Alhambra, a palace and fortress in Granada, Spain, represents the pinnacle of Moorish architecture and design. Contreras' model speaks to the 19th-century European fascination with the "exotic" cultures of the Middle East and North Africa. During this period, European scholars, artists, and architects traveled to these regions, often with colonial agendas, seeking inspiration from what they perceived as a rich and ancient heritage. The Alhambra, with its intricate geometric patterns, delicate stucco work, and poetic inscriptions, became a symbol of this idealized vision of Islamic culture. Studying the history of institutions such as museums and world fairs that displayed such models can tell us about the cultural values projected onto the Islamic world, and the complex dynamics of cultural exchange and appropriation that shaped the relationship between Europe and the Islamic world.