Photos: Qajar era monument converted into museum for works of Kamalolmolk and students
07/17/13Report by Tehran Times; photos by Organization of Tehran Beautification
The Negarestan Garden, a Qajar era monument in Tehran, has been converted into a museum to display works of Qajar era painter Mohammad Qaffari (1847-1940), known as Kamalolmolk, and his students.
All adaptations to the monument have been made by the Tehran Municipality, the Persian service of ISNA reported on Tuesday.
Tehran Mayor Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf and a group of veteran painters and graphic designers including Aidin Aghdashlu, Parviz Kalantari, and Qobad Shiva attended the opening ceremony of the Museum of the Kamalolmolk School on Monday.
Tehran City Council member Ahmad Masjed-Jamei also among the participating guests made a short speech.
"Kamalolmolk has been inspired by Tehran in most of his works," he said.
"His paintings of Tehran's foothills or Golestan Palace reflect the atmosphere and culture of Tehran in those years," he added.
In his brief speech Kalantari said he regarded the master as one of the highlights of visual arts in the development of modernism in Iran.
Aghdashlu said that Kamalolmolk is one of the major painters in the history of Iran's visual arts.
"He is precious because of his works and the position he had. We can hardly find a painter who possessed fame and good position while he was still alive, since most artists became famous years after their death," he stated.
The Negarestan Garden is located near Baharestan Square in downtown Tehran.
Mohammad Ghaffari, better known as Kamal-ol-Molk, born in Kashan in 1847, to a family greatly attached to art, was undoubtedly one of the most eminent artists in Iran. Dubbed as the Michelangelo of Persia, his uncle, Mirza AbolHassan Khan Ghaffari, known as Sanee-ol-Molk, a 19th century celebrated painter, was unrivalled in watercolor portraits. His father, Mirza Bozorg Ghaffari Kashani, was the founder of Iran's painting school and a famous artist as well. His brother, AbuTorab Ghaffari, was also a distinguished painter of his time. Mohammad developed an interest in calligraphy and painting at a young age. In his childhood eagerness, he drew charcoal sketches on the walls of his room. Some of the sketches he drew in that very house may amazingly, still be visible. (read more on wikipedia)
