30. Little Girl and Her Doll (Olga Mihaylova, the daughter of the artist) [1914]

Nikola Mihaylov is a leading figure in Bulgarian art from the beginning of the last century. A student of Ivan Mrkvička, Mihaylov specialized in Munich — in the private studios of Nikolaos Gyzis and Heinrich Knirr in 1895–1896, and later, with a scholarship from Prince (at that time) Ferdinand, at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts under Professors Otto Seitz and Alexander von Wagner, as well as in Paris and London. He lived and worked mainly in Munich. In Bulgaria he assumed the position of artist at the Ministry of Education, as well as that of court painter. He painted numerous portraits of ministers, other high-ranking figures, and the entire royal family. Mihaylov was the closest artist to Tsar Ferdinand and Tsar Boris, and undoubtedly some of the most emblematic and imposing portraits of both rulers are the work of this talented painter. Characteristic of Nikola Mihaylov’s portraits is the aristocratic presence of the sitter: he depicted male figures in an impressive, dignified manner, and female figures with exceptional delicacy and sensitivity. In his children’s portraits, the artist likewise succeeded in conveying the character of his subjects. In the presented work, the child’s figure is placed at the center of the composition, dressed in a formal gown, holding a doll in one hand and pulling a wheeled toy with the other. In his children’s portraits Mihaylov visibly adheres to the aristocratic appearance of his works, yet preserves the unforced, natural image of childhood. (A.M.)

References

Collective (1928). Nikola Mihaylov, Sofia: State Printing House.

Dimensions

width 94 cm, height 114 cm, custom 114 × 94 cm

Description

маслени бои върху платно, signed and dated bottom right, in black, "Nic. Michailow, 1914"

Dating

1914

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