The Alhambra of Granada, the Great Mosque of Cordoba and the Alcazar of Seville are the three most impressive monuments to the architectural creativity of the Moors in Spain, but there are many other examples worthy of mention too. The classical origins that influenced the Moorish style are less well-known, but fascinating to explore, as too is the unique interior decorative style developed by the Moors, which gives their architecture its beauty and exotic appeal – an appeal so strong that the Christians sometimes copied it, even as they slowly reconquered the territory from its Islamic rulers. This lecture provides a comprehensive introduction to the peninsula’s Moorish architecture.
Ian Cockburn
Ian is an art historian specialising in the nearly 800 years of Islamic occupation and Christian reconquest of medieval Iberia. He also cover some areas of Italian and Northern Renaissance art. He has a BA (Birkbeck College) in art history and an MA (Courtauld Institute of Art) in medieval Spanish art history.
As an accredited lecturer of The Arts Society, he regularly delivers lectures to local societies around the UK and in Spain. He also gives occasional guest lectures at institutions such as the V&A, and has delivered lectures at SOAS and the London Art History Society, as well as presenting papers on art history topics to conferences at Christies Education and at the Complutense University of Madrid.
He is a co-founder and director of Art & Culture Travel Ltd, which specialises in organising and delivering guided art history tours in Europe.
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Lucy Hallett-Hughes
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JIC Conference Centre, Colney Lane
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Chantal Brotherton-Ratcliffe
20 Oct 2026 - 19:00
JIC Centre
Colney Lane
Colney Lane
Online Event