The Alhambra / being a brief record of the Arabian conquest of the Peninsula with a particular account of the Mohammedan architecture and decoration

A compact history of the Arab conquest of the Iberian Peninsula is paired with a richly illustrated account of Moorish architecture and decoration, concentrating on the Alhambra’s structural forms and surface ornament. The text mixes concise historical narrative with descriptions of geometric patterns, interlaced designs, and the principle of decorating construction rather than building decoration, and it surveys conservation efforts, photographic records, and prior scholarship. A large selection of plates, drawings, and photographs is foregrounded to convey visual detail, while the author explains the selection and provenance of illustrations and considers how religious and cultural conventions shaped decorative expression.