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As far as Mirza Kadym Irevani is concerned, he was first known as a proficient decorator of walls, household utensils’ painter and embroidery craftsman. However, influenced
by novelties in art, he found out new areas of concentration by combining conventionality and decorative elements featuring the mediaeval art with totally different trends of
realism, individuality of images and resemblance to real life. These new elements may be sensed in almost everything, i.e. in the composition, lines, colors, etc. Actively involved
in the restoration of the Iravan Royal Palace in the 1850’s, he also succeeded in painting a number of portraits. The portrait of Abbas Mirza presents a very realistic attire, the
bearded face with very specific features and bright eyes. A fascinating woman’s portrait Makh Talat, nowadays exhibited at the Fine Arts Museum in Georgia, with beautifully
portrayed garment, ornate shawl, and rose adorning the woman’s hair, is another excellent example. The lady stares sensually with her big sad eyes.
Remarkable murals still adorn the Royal Palace in Sheki (the Palace of Sheki Khans), as well as the Shekikhanov residence. The Palace of Sheki Khans, along with frescoes of
the 18th century, boasts of some gorgeous wall paintings created in the 19th century by artists like Gambir Garabaghly, Safar Mirza Jafar, Aligulu, Gurbanali and others. Together
with samples of vegetal ornaments and portrayals of wildlife typical of Azerbaijan, the palace friezes feature frescoes with battle and hunting scenes. The murals are traditionally
two-dimensional and flat, devoid of perspective location and excessive details in portraying images. That being said, some heroes are depicted in a very lively and peculiar manner,
with the general effect very dynamic and picturesque indeed.
Mir Mohsun Navvab (1835-1918) was another outstanding artist of the said period and quite a Renaissance man deeply versed in music, astronomy, poetry and painting. Born
in Shusha, he founded the music association he used to chair. A gifted poet, calligrapher with strong drawing skills, he nevertheless was not prone to traditional portraits, quite
contrary to Mirza Kadym. The portraits he created feature birds and flowers. His illustrations to his own poem,
Bahr ul-Khazan
,
nowadays cherished at the Manuscript Institute,
the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, are recognized for gentle lines and rich composition.
Khurshudbanu Natavan (1832-1897) was a highly recognized figure in arts in her time. An amazing poetess, she was also a good calligrapher, artist and beads embroider. She
was known to make watercolor sketches and graphic works on easel at the bank of the Kura river in Tbilisi Georgia, while visiting her son Mehdigulukhan. Albums with more
than 30 sketches by Natavan, mainly landscapes, flowers and birds, are preserved to this day.