Sumbat Der Kiureghian, (Iran, 1913-1999)

The Camel Mill

The Camel Mill
pastel on paper, framed
signed "Sumbat" and dated "1953" (lower right), executed in 1953
40 x 56cm (15 3/4 x 22 1/16in).

AN EXTENSIVE PRIVATE COLLECTION OF WATERCOLOURS BY SUMBAT

Provenance:
Property from a private English collection
Acquired directly from the artist by the present owner

Born in 1913 to an Armenian family in New Julfa, Isfahan, Iran, Sumbat is the most celebrated watercolorist of his hometown- the center of Iranian arts and crafts. He was influenced by both western and eastern artistic styles, and by Armenian and Iranian traditions. Sumbat's paintings describe scenes around his hometown and the ordinary life of people living in the surrounding villages and towns. They possess a lyrical quality, an extraordinary harmony of colors, and a striking honesty of expression.

During his 65 years of artistic career, he produced thousands of watercolor, gouache and oil paintings, which are now scattered throughout the world in private collections and museums. He lived in Iran until 1980, then moved to the United States where he died in 1999. In addition to Iran and the United States, he travelled and painted in Armenia, England, France, Italy, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Switzerland.