Nasir al-Mulk Mosque

When someone brings up historical architecture, we picture beautiful arches, towering spires, sculptures and stone walls, but most of us probably don’t think of bright and vibrant colors. Nasir al-Molk Mosque, as illustrated by these photographs, is a striking and strong exception to the idea that historical structures might have been somewhat lacking in colors. Not only are its stained-glass windows richly colored, but its walls feature a beautiful and vibrantly colorful array of painted geometric tiles.

Construction on the mosque was begun in 1876 and completed in 1888 in Shiraz, Iran by the order of Mirza Hasan Ali Nasir al Molk, a lord of the Qajar dynasty. The stained glass windows capture the morning light and create a glorious play of light on the floor of the mosque, earning it the name of the “Pink Mosque” and inviting these photographers to capture its beauty. Although some of the tiles that decorate it are rose-colored, it seems like the mosque includes almost every color under the sun.

The mosque features many elements of traditional Islamic architecture like iwan arches and a central fountain for ablutions, but stained-glass windows are relatively rare. Only a few other mosques, like the Masjid al-Aqsa and the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, feature stained-glass windows.