21.05.1897–15.06.1945
Nikola Avramov
Nikola Avramov painted still lifes, most often of fruit, and in 1920 was one of the founders of the Bulgarian group “Independent Artists”, whose exhibitions were held without a selection jury. For ten years he copied paintings at the National Museum in Sofia, and in 1930 he made a copy of “Rachenitsa” by his teacher Ivan Mrkvička. His works are in the National Art Gallery.
Biography
At the exhibitions of the “Independent Artists” group there was no jury, and each participant’s place in the hall was decided by lot. Nikola Avramov was among the founders of the group in 1920, and this arrangement looks like a faithful extension of its principle: no restrictions and no compromises, only the artist’s personal responsibility and self-criticism.
He was born on 21 May 1897 in Yambol. His father, Vasil Avramov, from Kalofer, was a lawyer and the president of the district court, and later turned to history; his mother, Tsvetana Kancheva, came from Gabrovo. A sister, the future poet Dora Meteva, grew up in the family. Avramov studied at the School of Industrial Art in Sofia, in the painting department, under Professor Ivan Mrkvička, and graduated in 1921. He had founded the “Independent Artists” group while still a student, together with other Bulgarian painters. From 1924 he took part in the general exhibitions organised by the Union of Bulgarian Artists. In the same years he took a post as a copyist at the National Museum in Sofia and worked there until 1934, when the position was abolished. Copying was his job, but one copy became notable. In 1930 he repeated Mrkvička’s painting “Rachenitsa”, and among the other copies of that original his is considered the most accurate.
Avramov’s own painting consists of still lifes, mostly with fruit. In some works the influence of naturalism can be seen. He held two solo exhibitions in Sofia; at the last, in 1937, he showed still lifes and landscapes. I have not found descriptions of individual paintings, so his manner can be judged only from these general features.
In 1944 Avramov joined the group of Karl Yordanov that restored the Boyana Church near Sofia.
In September 1944, when the Soviet army entered Bulgaria, his home was searched and his paintings were confiscated.
He died in Sofia on 15 June 1945. Avramov’s works are held by the National Art Gallery and the Sofia City Art Gallery, and by the galleries in Varna and Samokov; a considerable part is in foreign and private collections.
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