The Holy Mother. St. George and St. Dimitrius on horseback
The impressive display devoted to his 200th birth anniversary includes his most famous self-portrait, the most expensive oil work in the gallery’s entire collection. Visitors are welcome to enjoy Zahari Zograf’s icons commissioned by many churches in Bulgaria, as well as his best frescos.
“His first fresco commission came from the St. Virgin Mary Church in Assenovgard, Southern Bulgaria”, Doroteia Sokolova goes on to say. “He then painted the frescos in St. Nicholas Church at Bachkovo Monastery, and this project made him famous. He worked there until 1840. At Bulgaria’s biggest monastery, Rila Monastery, Zahari Zograf produced a veritable masterpiece. In 1844-1845 the interiors of the monastery’s new large church were painted for the first time. The artist of genius worked on the most difficult part of them, the vaults, displaying unbelievable mastery. He used a fresco technique instead of oil.”
The circle of life. Warrior Saints (both from Preobrajenski Monastery)
Later in his life Zahari Zograf created frescos in the Troyan and Transfiguration monasteries. Toward the end of his life he went to work in Mount Athos. The great artist died at 43. Most of his legacy is kept at the National Art Gallery. It also keeps his family’s collection of prints, the richest in Bulgaria.
Translated by Daniela Konstantinova
Photos provided by Veneta Pavlova
The 10th edition of the Animaphix festival for animated films in Sicily, Italy, d edicates a special retrospective to the Bulgarian artist Teodore Ushev , who today will be honored with the Guttuso Award for 2024, reports BTA. Theodore Ushev:..
Bulgarian prominent writer of fiction, author of game books and translator of Tolkien, Lyubomir Nikolov, has passed away at the age of 74 on July 20, his relatives announced on social networks. Lyubomir Nikolov aka Narvi is the award-winning author..
Today at 13h00, the exhibition "Under the Protection of the Holy" will be opened at the National Library of Sts. Cyril and Methodius in Sofia. The exhibition comprises 16 thematic panels with manuscripts, archival documents, old printed books and..
Bulgarian prominent writer of fiction, author of game books and translator of Tolkien, Lyubomir Nikolov, has passed away at the age of 74 on July 20,..
The 10th edition of the Animaphix festival for animated films in Sicily, Italy, d edicates a special retrospective to the Bulgarian artist Teodore..
+359 2 9336 661