Kamal-ol-Molk

Kamal-ol-Molk (1859–1940), Iranian painter, graphic artist, teacher. Great-grandson of court painter Mirza Mohammad Abu’l-Hasan Ghaffari. Studied under Mozayyen-od-Doleh at the Dar-ul-Funun School in Tehran. Worked at the court, where he painted portraits of the shah and courtiers, palace interiors, landscapes and genre scenes. Visited Russia and trained in Vienna, Florence and Paris. Awarded the Order of the Lion and Sun. Founded the Academy of Fine Arts in Tehran and appointed deputy minister of education for fine art.
Born: 1859, Kashan (Iran)
Died: 1940, Nishapur (Iran)

Iranian painter, graphic artist, teacher. Great-grandson of court painter Mirza Mohammad Abu’l-Hasan Ghaffari. Born as Mohammad Ghaffari in the central Iranian town of Kashan in the family of Mirza Bozorg Ghaffari Kashani and Hajieh Maryam Beygom Šaybani (1859). Grew up at his father’s estate near Kashan (1860s). Moved to Tehran (1871), where he studied painting and drawing under Mozayyen-od-Doleh at the Dar-ul-Funun School (1876–79). Painted a portrait of the minister of education (1879), which caught the attention of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar (1880). Joined the shah’s court (1881), where he was awarded the titles of khan (1882) and chief court painter (1883). Married Zahra Khanom (1884). Painted portraits of the shah and courtiers, palace interiors, landscapes and genre scenes (1880–97). Awarded the honorary title of Kamal-ol-Molk, meaning “Perfection of the Realm” (1894). Visited Russia (1897) and studied art in Vienna, Florence and Paris (1898–1901). Had a love affair with a girl called Anna, who was the daughter of the Iranian minister to Austria (1901–02). Returned with Anna to Tehran (1901), where he was awarded the Order of the Lion and Sun (1902). Split up with Anna and moved to Iraq (1902). Lived in Baghdad and Karbala (1902–04). Returned to Tehran (1904), where he founded the Academy of Fine Arts (1911). Appointed deputy minister of education for fine art (1920–26). Acquired the rural estate of Hosaynabad in Khorasan (1924). Damaged his right eye in an accident with a piece of glass from his broken spectacles (1926). Resigned as director of the Academy of Fine Arts (1927). Died in Nishapur in north-east Iran and buried in Nishapur next to the tomb of Sufi poet Attar (1940).

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