Books by Robert Hillenbrand

Covering a thousand years of history and an area stretching from the Atlantic to the borders of India and China, this is a guide to the arts of Islam. A glossary of Islamic terms, a timeline and maps seek to unravel the complex history of the Islamic dynasties and their artistic achievements.

A detailed study of the Great Mongol Shahnama, considered to be the greatest of all Persian illustrated manuscripts​ The Great Mongol Shahnama is widely considered to be the definitive version of Firdausi's epic poem, and the greatest of all Persian illustrated manuscripts. The paintings from this manuscript are held in private collections and institutions around the world, and have only been seen together in a single volume once since they were originally dispersed. This monograph reunites the paintings and reproduces them as 67 full-page, high quality color plates, alongside an analysis by leading scholar of Islamic art, Robert Hillenbrand. With newly commissioned photographs and insights into technical aspects of the paintings, The Great Mongol Shahnama is a comprehensive resource for those interested in Persian art and manuscripts. Distributed for Hali Publications Ltd. and the FreerSackler, Smithsonian. Co-published by Hali Publications Ltd. and the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art, and supported by Qatar Museums. Exhibition Schedule: Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Washington, DC (December 2020-June 2021)

Islamic artists channeled their energies not into easel painting and large-scale sculpture, but rather into what Western scholars, obeying a very different hierarchy of art forms, rather disparagingly termed the "decorative arts" or even "the minor arts".

A masterpiece of medieval Arab metalwork revealed, shedding light on courtly life in northern Iraq under the Mongol governorship.

This is the definitive survey of Islamic architecture. Working from a social, rather than a technical perspective, Hillenbrand shows how the buildings fulfilled their intended functions within the community. Lavishly illustrated.

During the course of the centuries hundreds of illustrated Shahnama manuscripts were created. Many of these images are lying uncatalogued or in private collections. This study addresses the importance of having a large database built from this data.

This is the second of two volumes which consider in detail the art and architecture of Islam, from Spain to India, from the 7th century to the present day. This volume reflects Hillenbrand's principal interest: the architecture of Iran during the Seljuq period (11th to 12th centuries).