ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Mahmoud Farshchian, renowned Iranian artist celebrated for a unique style that blended traditional Persian miniature with modern surrealism, died on Saturday.
“It is with great sadness and deep sorrow that I offer my condolences on the passing of Master Mahmoud Farshchian, a great Iranian and world painter,” said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, state-owned IRNA news agency reported.
Farshchian’s most famous works include “The Evening of Ashura,” a poignant portrayal of Imam Hussein’s family in mourning, “The Guarantor of the Gazelle,” inspired by a Shiite narrative of Imam Reza protecting a deer, and “Ghadir Khumm,” a symbolic depiction of the Prophet Muhammad’s appointment of Imam Ali as his successor.
His work is known for its vibrant colors, dynamic compositions and a unique blend of traditional Persian miniature with modern elements, featuring themes of love, spirituality and the human condition through his signature style of “surnaturalism.”
Farshchian gifted the "Evening of Ashura” to Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who said on his passing: "I have cried every time I have looked at Mr. Farshchian's painting, which he himself gave me a few years ago,” Fars news agency reported.
Farshchian was born in Isfahan in 1930 into a family with a deep appreciation for the arts. His father was a Persian carpet merchant. He studied in Europe after graduating from Isfahan's High School for the Fine Arts and later held academic and cultural roles in Iran.
He showcased his work in more than 150 global exhibitions and has had pieces on display in institutions such as the British Library, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Harvard University, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported.
Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, expressing condolences on his death, said, “Master Farshchian's works were not only a manifestation of visual beauty, but also an expression of wisdom, mysticism, and the Iranian-Islamic spirit. Future generations of Iranian art will be inspired by his precious legacy."
Farshchian was reportedly in a coma in a hospital in the United States before his death.
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