Deacon or Drink: Some Paintings from Samarra Re-examined

A re-examination of the famous frescoes from the Gausaq Haqani palace in Samarra challenges earlier interpretations, particularly those by Ernst Herzfeld. The study suggests that the Kufic inscriptions on the so-called 'Picture-columns' are not necessarily artists' signatures but may relate to the content or function of the paintings. This finding complicates the understanding of attribution and authorship in early Islamic art. The research relies on close analysis of the architectural context, iconography, and inscriptions within the palace's harem-court, offering new insights into the symbolic and social dimensions of these ninth-century depictions.

Rice, D. S. (2017). Deacon or Drink: Some Paintings from Samarra Re-examined. Early Islamic Art and Architecture, 195–222. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315257280-9