Превъзходният Спирос Михаил във времето на великолепния Захарий
The Excellent Spiros Mikhail at the Time of Magnificent Zahari

Summary/Abstract: The art of Spiros Zograf (icon painter Spiros) can be found in a large area of Southwestern Bulgaria. Most probably he has lived in Stanimaka, present day Assenovgrad. Many of his icons can be seen in the eight churches of the Revival period and in over 50 chapels as well as in the nearby monasteries – Bachkovo Monastery, Gornovoden Monastery Sts.Quiricus and Julietta and St Paraskeva. He has worked in the regions of Smolyan, Kardzhali, Haskovo, Parvomay, Peshtera, etc. The earliest icon attributed to him is dated 1822 while the latest is dated 1844. The study attempts to present his art in the context of Bulgarian art from the period of the Revival. His works in the region can be found in churches where the founder of the Samokov Icon Painting School Hristo Dimitrov and his son Zahari Zograf has worked. An attempt has been made here to support the thesis that Spiros was a monk from Mount Athos that most probably has met personally Hristo Dimitrov (who worked in Stanimaka during the period 1802-1808) in the beginning of 1820s and possibly studied with him or studied his works. He tried to follow some of the novel iconographic schemes and stylistic traits of Dimitrov. In Stanimaka Spiros has worked everywhere that Zahari Zograf has worked. An interesting meta- morphosis can be observed where it was rather Zahari Zograf that learnt from him or at least fol- lowed some of Spiros’ iconographic compositions. Mural paintings by Spiros Mikhail have not yet been discovered. He was an artist of miniature icons and had problems coping with the icons from the royal order of the iconostasis. Regardless of that fact his art was unique, with an individual style, sometimes naïve but always exceptionally exquisite. Being a master of decorative art, Spiros possibly has participated in the painting of the interiors of many houses from the Revival period. He is the author of almost all of the icons in the church The Assumption of Mary in Smolyan and is possibly the author of the ‘landscapes from Jerusalem’ on the footing plates of the same iconostasis as well as of the mural decorations in the Agush Konak in the village of Momchilovtzi, Smolyan region.

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