A Comparative Analytical Study of Decorative Elements at the Entrances of Historic Buildings: Tripoli, Tunis, and Malta as Case Studies

Abstract

This research presents a comparative analytical study of the decorative vocabularies used in the portals of historical buildings in the Mediterranean basin, taking the cities of Tripoli, Tunis, and the island of Malta as an applied field. The study seeks to observe the subtle similarities and fundamental differences, and trace the paths of mutual influence between these cities during the first Ottoman period and its contemporary era (1551-1711 AD). The research relied primarily on the descriptive, analytical, and comparative approach as a tool to interrogate the artistic characteristics of religious and civil buildings. The study concluded that there are inevitable common artistic denominators represented in the prevalence of the "rosette" motif, intertwined botanical bands, and various arches. Simultaneously, the research proved that each region retained the particularity of its local character; Tripoli and Tunis leaned towards decorative abstraction and intaglio carving in harmony with Islamic art, while the Baroque style and intense high-relief sculpture dominated the Catholic architecture of Malta.