18 Works, Today, April 1st is artist Anton Stefanov Mitov's day, his story, illustrated with footnotes #90

Anton Mitov  (1862–1930)

Розоберачка/ Rose picker

Oil on canvas

I have no further description, at this time

Anton Stefanov Mitov (1 April 1862, in Stara Zagora – 20 August 1930, in Sofia) was a Bulgarian painter, art critic, art historian, social activist and corresponding member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.

Anton Mitov  (1862–1930)

A group of peasants at a market in Sofia, c. 1903

Oil on canvas

Private collection

When Mitov was fifteen, Ottoman troops burned his hometown and massacred over 14,000 people. His family fled to Svishtov, where they lived in poverty. He took a job as a clerk in Romania and remained there until Bulgaria was liberated in 1878, returning home determined to be an artist. 

Anton Mitov  (1862–1930)

Constantine and Irina, c. 1917

Oil on canvas

Philippopolis Art Museum

Konstantin was the tsar of Bulgaria from 1257 to 1277. 

In 1257, Irene married Bulgarian nobleman Constantine Tikh as his second wife. Her husband was a pretender to the Bulgarian crown. Constantine was proud to be married to a granddaughter of Tsar Ivan Asen II, and he adopted the Bulgarian dynastic name Asen to enhance his claim to the crown. In the next year Constantine was elected Tsar of Bulgaria by a boyar council in Tarnovo and Irene become his consort. More on Constantine and Irina

The 19th century was the most complex and transient time in Bulgarian history and its artistic heritage. Over a span of some one hundred years, art traversed the path from medieval figurativeness to becoming affiliated with contemporary European visual culture. The first stage of this multi-layered process was characterised by the emergence and development of the secular easel portrait, which was the main genre in Bulgarian art during the epoch of the National Revival.

Anton Mitov  (1862–1930)

Gypsy woman, c. 1893

Oil on cardboard

24 x 19 cm. (9.4 x 7.5 in.)

Private collection

In 1881, after working as a telegraph operator for two years, he saved enough money to enroll at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze where he studied under the direction of Giuseppe Ciaranfi. Upon his return home, he worked as a journalist and a teacher in Stara Zagora, Plovdiv, Varna and Sofia.

Anton Mitov  (1862–1930)

Children playing in the street , c. 1890

Oil on canvas

56 x 85 cm. (22 x 33.5 in.)

Private collection

The transition to modern times isn’t quite so “revolutionary”, because the monarchs of the young third Bulgarian kingdom had a taste for fine arts. This is especially true of Tsar Ferdinand, who ruled from 1887 to 1918/up until 1908 as a prince/. The palace was a refined hub of culture. Generations of original Bulgarian artists evolved, many of whom were frequent guests at the royal palace, or had the support of the royal family.

All of Mitov's paintings are filled with realistic figures of peasants, merchants or other figures engaged in their everyday life. 

Anton Mitov  (1862–1930)

Grapes Market, c. 1894

Oil on canvas

Private collection

Anton Mitov  (1862–1930)

The Peasant Market, c. 1901

Oil on canvas

48 x 34.5 cm

Private collection

Anton Mitov  (1862–1930)

The Poultry Market, c. 1901

Oil on canvas

48 x 34.5 cm

Private collection

Anton Mitov (1862–1930)

Peasants at the Market in Sofia, c. 1903

Oil on canvas

National Art Gallery, Bulgaria

Anton Mitov  (1862–1930)

Sofia Market, c. 1905

Oil on canvas

Private collection

Anton Mitov  (1862–1930)

Pottery Market in Sofia, c. 1917

Oil on canvas

National Art Gallery, Bulgaria

Anton Mitov  (1862–1930)

Market scene, c. 1920

Oil on canvas

35 x 53 cm

Private collection

Anton Mitov  (1862–1930)

Market, c. 1920

Oil on canvas

Private collection

In 1896, he was one of the co-founders of the National Academy of Arts'

Anton Mitov  (1862–1930)

A Peasant Boy, c. 1902

Watercolor

56 (H) x 34 (W) cm / 22 (H) x 13.4 (W) inch

Private collection

The Peasant Boyreflects a very characteristic part of the everyday life in Sofia from the beginning of the 20th century and reflects the mastery of the artist to depict human figures in a fine and realistic way. The painting is emblematic for the creative style of the artist, as he is a master of the detailed depiction of the human body and figure. More on this painting

in Sofia, where he taught art history, drawing and perspective. He served two terms as its Director, from 1912 to 1918, and from 1924 to 1927. In 1898, he was part of a team of artists that decorated the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral. One of the first Bulgarian painters to exhibit internationally, he played a decisive role in dispelling the image of his country as a cultural backwater.

Anton Mitov  (1862–1930)

Продавач на хляб/ Bread seller, c. 1888

Oil on canvas

67 х 51 cm

Art Gallery of Kazanlak

Anton Mitov  (1862–1930)

Return from the grape harvest, c. 1893

Oil on canvas

National Art Gallery, Bulgaria

Anton Mitov  (1862–1930)

Count Ignatiev on the peak "St. Nikola ”in 1902, c. 1904

Oil on canvas

Sofia City Art Gallery

Count Nikolay Pavlovich Ignatyev (17 January Old Style (N.S. 29 January) 1832 – 20 June Old Style (N.S. 3 July) 1908), a Russian statesman and diplomat, best known for his aggressive expansionism in support of Russian imperialism. As the Russian ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1864 to 1877, he worked to stir up pan-Slavic feeling and nationalism against the Ottomans, and had some responsibility for the Bulgarian rebellion of April 1876. He encouraged his government to declare war on Turkey in 1877, and after the decisive Russian victory he negotiated the Treaty of San Stefano in 1878. It heralded greatly strengthened Russian influence in the Balkans. However Britain and Austria intervened and forced the retraction of the treaty. More on Count Nikolay Pavlovich Ignatyev

He was also active in the nation's political and cultural life, making contributions to many newspapers such as Balkan Dawn, Evening Post and World as well as the magazine Art (usually under pseudonyms, such as "Tonino" and "Arnold"). He also lectured extensively and did book illustrations (those for Under the Yoke by Ivan Vazov are, perhaps, best known).

Anton Mitov  (1862–1930)

Vakarelka with samovar, c.  1899

Oil on canvas

Sofia City Art Gallery

A samovar is a metal container traditionally used to heat and boil water. Although originating in Russia, the samovar is well known outside of Russia and has spread through Russian culture to Eastern Europe. More on a samovar 

Among his works are the first seascapes painted in Bulgaria, although he specialized in genre art and portraits. A street in Plovdiv is named after him. His brother Georgi was also a well-known painter. More on Anton Stefanov Mitov

Please visit my other blogs: Art Collector, Mythology, Marine Art, Portrait of a Lady, The Orientalist, Art of the Nude and The Canals of Venice, Middle East Artists, 365 Saints and 365 Days, also visit my Boards on Pinterest

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