ARTIST: Dimitar Radoykov (Bulgarian, 1879 - 1940)
NAME: Landscape - Village "Vetovo" (titled on verso)
YEAR: 1916
MEDIUM: oil on canvas
CONDITION: Some craquelure. No visible inpaint under UV light.
SIGHT SIZE: 12 x 21 inches / 30 x 53 cm
FRAME SIZE: 15 x 24 inches / 38 x 60 cm
SIGNATURE: lower left and on verso
CATEGORY: antique vintage painting
SKU#: 116647
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BIOGRAPHY:
Born in Samokov on June 18, 1879 in the family of Vasil Pop Hristov Radoikov and Maria Shtarbeva, Dimitar inevitably followed in the footsteps of his father, whom he helped to draw preparatory drawings and icons. There is information that during the work for the churches in the village of Lozen, Pazardzhik
region and the Kokalyan monastery, together with Vasil pop Radoykov was his son.
Dimitar Radoykov received his primary education in Samokov. At that time (the end of the 19th century) many young people from Samokov left the city limits in search of a better education. In Sofia Radoikov graduated from the fourth real class of the Sofia Boys' High School, after which (1896) he applied to
study and was admitted to the first class of the State School of Drawing (today's Academy of Arts) in the class of Prof. Ivan Markvichka.
After the Liberation, the craft, which sustained the family of Vasil Pop Radoykov and other painters from Samokov, gradually died out due to the import of cheap Russian (and other) lithographic icons. Many craftsmen are redirected to areas of activity close to their craft (eg woodcarvers are gradually
starting to make window frames). The years that Dimitar studied at the drawing school helped a lot for the growth and formation of his talent. At the beginning of the twentieth century, the need for drawing teachers in both secondary and higher schools was great. This largely determines the future of the
artist who devotes himself to the teaching profession. Working with students in no way prevents Radoikov from painting and becoming one of the big names in Bulgarian art and portrait painting.
His first appointment as a teacher (1901) was at the pedagogical school in Kazanlak - a town surrounded by extremely beautiful and picturesque places, which offers artists many views for inspiration and painting. Much of his work is associated with this city, where in 1906 two of Radoikov's paintings were
bought by Russian Prince Vladimir Alexandrovich. Kazanlak rose gardens and landscapes come to life in many of the artist's paintings.
In 1907 Dimitar Radoykov moved to his hometown of Samokov, where he taught painting at the Konstantin Fotinov High School. At that time, Sotir Klinkov, another representative of the large painting families in the city, was also a teacher there. Radoykov's relatively short stay in Samokov is associated with
great creative and cultural activity. Here he also met his wife Shtirka Palasheva, a teacher at the American College, who graduated in music in America. In 1911 the two got married and settled permanently in Ruse.
In the Danube town Radoykov teaches at the girls' high school "Baba Tonka". Along with his official commitments, he develops a large and diverse public activity. His name was among the founders of the Ruse Art Gallery in April 1933, where some of his most emblematic works are still preserved. He also put a
lot of effort as a set designer in the Ruse theater, where most of the stage sets and projects are his work, including the famous red curtain. In Ruse Radoikov was an active member of the Red Cross, the Tourist Association, the Abstinence Association. For a short time he worked with the artists Alexander
Lazarov and Atanas Mihov.
As a mobilized soldier, Radoikov took part in the Balkan Wars and the First World War. He did not stop working at the front, thanks to which he left behind magnificent works with military themes, like other colleagues. Many state institutions and private collections have preserved oil, watercolor and pencil
paintings depicting military action and life up close.
The magnificent icons that came out of Radoikov's hand cannot but be mentioned. Throughout his career, he continued to paint iconographic images. Icons from it have been preserved in several churches in Ruse and other parts of Bulgaria.
Dimitar Radoykov had a great beneficial influence on his students, among whom stand out the names of Vasil Zahariev, Chudomir, Stanyu Stamatov, Ivan Penkov, Iliya Petrov and others. He regularly participated in national and international exhibitions, where his work is highly acclaimed. Most of his paintings
have left the borders of Bulgaria. Some of his most valuable works are in America, where in 1921 he organized a solo exhibition.
For his entire creative activity Radoikov was awarded two orders of civil merit I degree, as well as many awards from his participation in exhibitions. In 1940, at the age of 61, he completed his life in Ruse, leaving behind a unique heritage of diversity and artistic value.