A Convergence of Animals in Human Suits

crashinglybeautiful:

kateoplis:

The main dome of the Masjed-e Imam, built during the Safavids period in 1611, when Isfahan became the new capital of Iran (larger via tilo driessen)

MetMuseum: Jean Chardin, a French jeweler who traveled throughout Iran in 1664–70 and again in 1671–77, exclaimed that Isfahan was “the greatest and most beautiful town in the whole Orient.” He described the city’s population as a mix of Christians, Jews, fire-worshippers (Zoroastrians), Muslims, and merchants from all over the world. He counted 162 mosques, 48 colleges, 1,802 caravanserais, 273 baths, and 12 cemeteries, indicating Shah Abbas’ extensive architectural work in the city. + +

Studying art history gives me such inspiration to travel the world. I mean, seeing Casablanca and seeing the Pyrenees, staying by Lake Geneva and walking through a sunflower field in Italy all sound so exciting, entrancing even, but truth be told I’m infinitely more eager to see all of the architecture we have learned about this year. I can handle studying painting and sculpture from photographs in books, but I always feel so uncomfortable relying on images when looking at buildings. I feel as if it’d look significantly different to see the structure in reality, from infinitely many perspectives, and how the change in lighting influences its appearance.

Plus I have a sort of ridiculous dream to study Spanish in college and stay in Catalonia or Madrid for a few months. Though I’ve only ever been to Madrid for a few weeks when I was really quite young, I feel like Spain really does it for me- like I could be happy living there for my entire life. It’s the only place in the world that makes me feel that way.