Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba

Watercolor & Ink on 8x10” Cotton Rag

This piece is inspired by the hypostyle prayer hall of the Mosque–Cathedral of Córdoba, where rows of repeating horseshoe arches define the space. Before the mosque was built, the site contained a Visigothic church, and elements of that architecture, particularly the horseshoe arch and reused columns were incorporated into the early structure. With the advent of Islam in Spain, these forms were expanded and refined into a highly ordered system that emphasizes rhythm, proportion, and clarity. As the mosque grew through multiple phases, the hypostyle hall became one of its most recognizable and influential features, reflecting a fusion of Islamic architectural principles and local Spanish building traditions.