Stanislav Dospevski
Encyclopedia
Stanislav Dospevski is the name assumed by Zafir Zograf (Зафир Зограф), the son of Dimitar Zograf
and nephew of the famed Bulgarian
icon and mural painter, Zahari Zograf
. He is a notable representative of the Samokov
artistic school and one of the most important painters and icon-painters of the Bulgarian Revival. Dospevski is one of the first Bulgarians to have received academic artistic training.
Stanislav Dospevski was born on 3 December 1823 in Samokov. He began his training in his native town, Samokov, and then continued his education in Plovdiv
. From an early age he had been helping his father in his icon painting for the Plovdiv church of Sveta Nedelya (St Nedelya), thus acquiring early artistic experience. In 1850 Dospevski went to Moscow
, where he started his studies the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture
, and later from 1853 to 1856 he studied at the Imperial Academy of Arts
in St Petersburg in Fyodor Bruni’s class.
After his return to Bulgaria he took on the name of Dospevski and became a pioneer of the secular realistic portrait in Bulgarian art. He lived in Pazardzhik
and Samokov, but continued to paint in Plovdiv.
During the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878 he was arrested by the Ottoman
government. He died in prison in Istanbul
on 6 January 1878.
One of the elementary schools in Samokov, NU “Stanislav Dospevski”, bears his name.
The great-granddaughter of Stanislav Dospevski is the translator Neli Dospevska.
Dimitar Zograf
Dimitar Hristov , better known as Dimitar Zograf , was a noted 19th-century Bulgarian painter known for his icons....
and nephew of the famed Bulgarian
Bulgarians
The Bulgarians are a South Slavic nation and ethnic group native to Bulgaria and neighbouring regions. Emigration has resulted in immigrant communities in a number of other countries.-History and ethnogenesis:...
icon and mural painter, Zahari Zograf
Zahari Zograf
Zahariy Hristovich Dimitrov , better known as Zahari Zograf is arguably the most famous Bulgarian painter of the Bulgarian National Revival, noted for his church mural paintings and icons and often regarded as the founder of secular art in Bulgaria due to the introduction of everyday life...
. He is a notable representative of the Samokov
Samokov
Samokov is a town in Sofia Province in the southwest of Bulgaria. It is situated in a kettle between the mountains Rila and Vitosha, 55 kilometres from the capital Sofia...
artistic school and one of the most important painters and icon-painters of the Bulgarian Revival. Dospevski is one of the first Bulgarians to have received academic artistic training.
Stanislav Dospevski was born on 3 December 1823 in Samokov. He began his training in his native town, Samokov, and then continued his education in Plovdiv
Plovdiv
Plovdiv is the second-largest city in Bulgaria after Sofia with a population of 338,153 inhabitants according to Census 2011. Plovdiv's history spans some 6,000 years, with traces of a Neolithic settlement dating to roughly 4000 BC; it is one of the oldest cities in Europe...
. From an early age he had been helping his father in his icon painting for the Plovdiv church of Sveta Nedelya (St Nedelya), thus acquiring early artistic experience. In 1850 Dospevski went to Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, where he started his studies the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture
Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture
The Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture was one of the largest educational institutions in Russia. The school was formed by the 1865 merger of a private art college, established in Moscow in 1832, and the Palace School of Architecture, established in 1749 by Dmitry Ukhtomsky. By...
, and later from 1853 to 1856 he studied at the Imperial Academy of Arts
Imperial Academy of Arts
The Russian Academy of Arts, informally known as the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts, was founded in 1757 by Ivan Shuvalov under the name Academy of the Three Noblest Arts. Catherine the Great renamed it the Imperial Academy of Arts and commissioned a new building, completed 25 years later in 1789...
in St Petersburg in Fyodor Bruni’s class.
After his return to Bulgaria he took on the name of Dospevski and became a pioneer of the secular realistic portrait in Bulgarian art. He lived in Pazardzhik
Pazardzhik
Pazardzhik is a city situated along the banks of the Maritsa river, Southern Bulgaria. It is the capital of Pazardzhik Province and centre for the homonymous Pazardzhik Municipality...
and Samokov, but continued to paint in Plovdiv.
During the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878 he was arrested by the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
government. He died in prison in Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
on 6 January 1878.
One of the elementary schools in Samokov, NU “Stanislav Dospevski”, bears his name.
The great-granddaughter of Stanislav Dospevski is the translator Neli Dospevska.