Stanislav Dospevski

Place: Samokov

Born: 1823

Death: 1878

Biography:

Stanislav Dospevski, also known as Zafir Zograf, was a prominent Bulgarian painter and icon-painter. Born on December 3, 1823, in Samokov, Bulgaria, he is considered one of the most important figures in Bulgarian art history. Dospevski's artistic training began in his native town, where he helped his father, Dimitar Zograf, with icon painting for the Plovdiv church of Sveta Nedelya.

Artistic Education and Career

Dospevski continued his education in Plovdiv before moving to Moscow, where he studied at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture. He later attended the Imperial Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg, studying under Fyodor Bruni's guidance. After completing his studies, Dospevski returned to Bulgaria and adopted the name Stanislav Dospevski. He became a pioneer of secular realistic portrait painting in Bulgarian art, living in Pazardzhik and Samokov while continuing to paint in Plovdiv.

Notable Works and Legacy

Dospevski's artwork can be found in various museums, including the National Gallery of Bulgaria. Some of his notable works include Portrait of Dimitar Zograf and Portrait of Stefan Zahariev. His great-granddaughter, Neli Dospevska, is a translator. One of the elementary schools in Samokov, NU “Stanislav Dospevski”, bears his name. Key aspects of Dospevski's life and work:

• He was one of the first Bulgarians to receive academic artistic training.
• He studied at the Moscow School of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture and the Imperial Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg.
• He became a pioneer of secular realistic portrait painting in Bulgarian art.
• His artwork can be found in museums such as the National Gallery of Bulgaria.

For more information on Stanislav Dospevski and his works, visit: https://Wikioo.org/@/Stanislav-Dospevski or https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanislav_Dospevski. Some of his paintings can be seen at https://Wikioo.org/@@/D7JK2F-Stanislav-Dospevski-Portrait-of-Dimitar-Zograf and https://Wikioo.org/@@/D7JH66-Stanislav-Dospevski-Portrait-of-Stefan-Zahariev. Other notable artists from Bulgaria can be found at https://Wikioo.org/@/Dimităr-Hristov, including Dimităr Hristov and his works such as ST THERAPONTIUS.