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[[File:Zograf_self.jpg|right|thumb|px250|Zahari Zograf, Self-Portrait]] 
'''Zahari Zograf''', also known as '''Zahari Hristovich Dimitrov''', was a nineteenth century Bulgarian [[iconographer]] who is considered among the greatest painters of the Bulgarian National Revival of the nineteenth century. Zahari is noted for his [[icon]] painting as well as his murals in churches. He has often been regarded as the founder of secular art in Bulgaria for his introduction of everyday life elements in his work. 

==Life==
Zahari was born in 1810 in the town of Samokov in southwest Bulgaria, into the family of Hristo Dimitrov, who had founded the Samokov iconographic school. As his father died in 1819, Zahari was taught by his brother Dimitar Zograf with whom he later worked as an equal. In 1827, he became a spiritual student of the [[monk]] Neophyte of Rila. In 1831 at the age of 21, Zahari was proclaimed a master and became an equal partner of his brother.

With his older brother Dimitar, Zahari painted the frescoes of the main church of the Rila Monastery, the largest and most famous [[monastery]] in Bulgaria. He is most known for his icons in the Church of Ss. Constantine and Helen of Plovdiv, the Church of the [[Theotokos]] in Koprivshtitsa, as well as in many monasteries. Among Zahari's best known frescoes are those in the main church of the Rila Monastery, in the [[chapel]] and the St. Nicholas Church at the [[Assumption of the Virgin Monastery (Bachkovo, Bulgaria)|Bachkovo Monastery]], the [[Dormition Monastery (Troyan, Bulgaria)|Troyan Monastery]], and the Transfiguration Monastery. In the latter three monasteries, Zahari also painted three mural portraits of himself, an action that was regarded as controversial at the time.

Zahari lived and worked on [[Mount Athos]] between 1851 and 1852. During that time he decorated the outer [[narthex]] of the [[Katholikon]] of the [[Great Lavra (Athos)|Great Lavra]] Monastery. He also did several donor portraits in various churches in his later years. 

Zahari died of typhus on [[June 14]], 1853, leaving a large number sketches of unrealized work.

==Sources==
*[[Wikipedia: Zahari_Zograf]]
*[http://www.tutorgigpedia.com/ed/Zahari_Zograf  Zahari Zograf] 
*[[Wikipedia: Dimitar_Zograf]]
*[http://www.raphaelgallery.org/painting-Zahari%20Zograf-The%20circle%20of%20life,-61648.htm  Zahari_Zograf]

[[Category: Iconographers]]