Interior of the Alhambra(?) 1810 - 1883

Franz von Hauslab the Younger created this drawing of what is believed to be the interior of the Alhambra. The columns, arches, and geometric patterns are quintessential Islamic motifs. The columns, with their ornamental capitals, reach back to ancient Greece and Rome, embodying ideals of order and rationality. Yet, within the Alhambra, these forms are reimagined through the lens of Islamic art, combined with intricate arabesques and calligraphy. Note the staircase: stairways are a universal symbol of ascent, progress, and connection between different realms. From ancient Egyptian pyramids to Renaissance palaces, staircases serve not only a functional purpose, but they evoke a sense of grandeur and spiritual elevation. The inclusion of what appears to be a sculpture may bring classical antiquity into the space. These visual echoes trigger what I call the “survival of antiquity,” a concept where classical forms and ideas persist, subtly resurfacing and transforming through the ages, shaping our collective cultural memory.