This artwork places Ziryab in a Cordoban courtyard. An instrument beside him, the city that his influence helped transform visible in the arches beyond.
Ziryab arrived in al-Andalus from Baghdad in 822 CE and proceeded to change almost everything about how the Andalusian elite lived. He introduced a seasonal wardrobe, different clothes for different times of year. He reformed table culture, introducing courses eaten in sequence rather than all at once. He brought new musical modes, added a fifth string to the oud, and established a school of music whose influence persisted for generations. He introduced asparagus to Iberian cuisine. He popularised deodorant.
He was also one of the most gifted musicians of his age, and his real contribution was something harder to quantify: the idea that civilisation was expressed in the texture of daily life, not just in monuments and courts.
Every artwork in the Riwayah collection is available in four premium display formats, crafted to suit every home and interior style. Our canvas prints offer a rich, textured finish that brings depth and character to each piece, stretched on FSC-certified wooden bars for a refined gallery feel. For a minimalist and versatile look, our magnetic hangers use durable pine wood to hold your print securely without marking it, making it easy to change artwork whenever you like. Those seeking a classic, museum-style presentation can choose our premium wooden frames, crafted from responsibly sourced oak or ash with visible natural grain and protected with shatterproof plexiglass. And for a sleek, contemporary finish, our aluminium frames pair clean black metal with heavyweight matte paper for a polished, modern aesthetic. All prints use FSC-certified paper and high-quality inks, arrive ready to hang or assemble, and are produced on demand in the UK to reduce waste and ensure the highest standard of craftsmanship.
