Zahariy Hristovich Dimitrov ( bg, Захарий Христович Димитров) (1810–1853), better known as Zahari Zograf (or Zahariy Zograf; Захари(й) Зограф) is a 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 elements in his work. Zahari Zograf was born in the town of Samokov in 1810 and was taught by his brother Dimitar Zograf, with whom he later worked together, as his father died early. A spiritual student of

Neophyte of Rila Neofit Rilski ( bg, Неофит Рилски) or Neophyte of Rila ( Bansko, 1793 – January 4, 1881), born Nikola Poppetrov Benin ( bg, Никола Поппетров Бенин) was a 19th-century Bulgarian monk, teacher and artist, and an impo ...

since 1827, he became an equal partner of his brother at the age of 21 in 1831, i.e. he was proclaimed a master. His best known icons are those of the SS Constantine and Helen Church in

Plovdiv Plovdiv ( bg, Пловдив, ), is the second-largest city in Bulgaria, standing on the banks of the Maritsa river in the historical region of Thrace. It has a population of 346,893 and 675,000 in the greater metropolitan area. Plovdiv is the c ...

, the Church of the

Theotokos ''Theotokos'' (Greek: ) is a title of Mary, mother of Jesus, used especially in Eastern Christianity. The usual Latin translations are ''Dei Genitrix'' or ''Deipara'' (approximately "parent (fem.) of God"). Familiar English translations are " ...

in Koprivshtitsa, as well as a number of monasteries. Zahari Zograf's best known frescoes are those in the main church of the Rila Monastery, in the chapel and the St Nicholas church of the Bachkovo Monastery, the Troyan Monastery and the

Monastery of the Transfiguration The Transfiguration Monastery ( bg, Преображенски манастир, ''Preobrazhenski manastir'') or the Monastery of the Holy Transfiguration of God (манастир "Свето Преображение Господне", ''manasti ...

. He painted three mural portraits of himself in the latter three, a move that was regarded as controversial during the time. Zahari Zograf lived and worked on

Mount Athos Mount Athos (; el, Ἄθως, ) is a mountain in the distal part of the eponymous Athos peninsula and site of an important centre of Eastern Orthodox monasticism in northeastern Greece. The mountain along with the respective part of the penins ...

between 1851 and 1852, where he decorated the outer narthex of the Great Lavra. He also did several church

donor portrait A donor portrait or votive portrait is a portrait in a larger painting or other work showing the person who commissioned and paid for the image, or a member of his, or (much more rarely) her, family. ''Donor portrait'' usually refers to the portr ...

s in his later years, also leaving a large number of unrealized sketches after his death from typhus on 14 June 1853. Image:Koleloto na zhivota.jpg, ''The circle of life'',

Transfiguration Monastery The Transfiguration Monastery ( bg, Преображенски манастир, ''Preobrazhenski manastir'') or the Monastery of the Holy Transfiguration of God (манастир "Свето Преображение Господне", ''manasti ...

, Veliko Tarnovo Image:Zograf virgin.jpg, ''Mary with the young Jesus'', church Archangel, Bachkovo Monastery Image:Neofit rilski.jpg, ''Рortrait of Neofit Rilski '' (1838),

National Art Gallery List of national galleries is a list of national art galleries. {{tocright Africa *Iziko South African National Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa *National Art Gallery of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia The Americas *Galería Nacional, San Juan, Puerto ...

, Sofia Image:Sv Kiril Metodij Zahari Zograf Trojanski mon 1848.jpg, ''Saints Cyril and Methodius'' (1848), Troyan Monastery

External links

Wheel of Life at Monastery of Transfiguration
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zograf, Zahari 1810 births 1853 deaths People from Samokov Deaths from typhus 19th-century Bulgarian people 19th-century Bulgarian painters 19th-century male artists Icon painters Male painters