PALACE and MOSQUE: Islamic Art from the Middle East From the publisher The Middle East has played a pivotal role in human civilization for thousands of years, and throughout its long and often turbulent history it has produced art of great power and sophistication art that still has the power to engage us today. Since the emergence of the first Islamic empire in the seventh century, the setting for this art has been the palace and the mosque. This book is devoted to some of Islam’s greatest works and the culture that produced them. This book catalogues the V&A's collection of Islamic Art to be displayed at the opening of the Jameel Gallery 2006 Tim Stanley is Senior Curator of the Middle Eastern collections at the V&A Museum | 
