Clara Abkar (, ; 1916 – March 20, 1996) was an Iranian-Armenianminiaturist painter and gilder. She was the first Iranian female miniaturist. Her name is sometimes spelled Klara Abgar, Clara Abgaryan, and Clara Abkarian.
Early life and career
Clara Abkar was from into an Armenian family from
New Julfa
New Julfa (, ''Now Jolfā'', or , ''Jolfâ-ye Now''; , ''Nor Jugha'') is the Armenians, Armenian quarter of Isfahan, Iran, located along the south bank of the Zayanderud.
Established and named after the Gülüstan, Nakhchivan, older city of Julf ...
the Armenian quarter of
Isfahan
Isfahan or Esfahan ( ) is a city in the Central District (Isfahan County), Central District of Isfahan County, Isfahan province, Iran. It is the capital of the province, the county, and the district. It is located south of Tehran. The city ...
, Iran. She was born in 1916 in Tehran, Qajar Iran. She studied at the Armenian school Davotian, later called Koshesh. During her school days, she learned painting with Markar Qarabaghian and Hakup Vartanian. She also studied Iranian traditional painting and miniature under Mohammad Mehrovan, the designer of Iranian stamps.
She studied at the High Academy of Fine Arts.
in her miniature paintings horse riding scenes, still life, flowers, the
Mausoleum of Omar Khayyám
The Mausoleum of Omar Khayyám (; ) is a mausoleum of white marble erected over Omar Khayyám's headstone, located on the south-east of the city of Nishapur, in the northeastern province of Razavi Khorasan, Iran. The mausoleum is a symbol of co ...
,
Attar
Attar, also known as ittar, is an essential oil derived from botanical or other natural sources. Most commonly these oils are extracted via hydrodistillation or steam distillation. Attar can also be expressed by chemical means but generally n ...
, Sheikh Ahmad and also the Firozabadi and Aliabad towers had a special place.
She never put her works on sale.
Works
Horse riding scenes, still life paintings, flowers and the tomb of Khayyam and
Attar
Attar, also known as ittar, is an essential oil derived from botanical or other natural sources. Most commonly these oils are extracted via hydrodistillation or steam distillation. Attar can also be expressed by chemical means but generally n ...
were some of the artist's favorite subjects for miniature paintings. She also excelled in portraying bazam gatherings. Among her famous paintings are Anoushirvan and
Bozorgmehr
Bozorgmehr-e Bokhtagan (Middle Persian: ''Wuzurgmihr ī Bōkhtagān''), also known as Burzmihr, Dadmihr and Dadburzmihr, was an Iranian peoples, Iranian sage and dignitary from the House of Karen, Karen family, who served as minister (''Wuzurg fr ...
, Shekar-é Bahram, Youssef and Zulikha, The old woman and
Ahmad Sanjar
Sanjar (, ; full name: ''Muizz ad-Dunya wa ad-Din Adud ad-Dawlah Abul-Harith Ahmad Sanjar ibn Malik-Shah'') (6 November 1086 – 8 May 1157) was the Seljuq ruler of Khorasan from 1097 until 1118,Sheikh San'Aan, The Fearful Girl, Bazm and Bade Eshgh. Abkar also produced many notable gilded paintings, with her octagonal gilding featuring a paisley design being particularly famous.