Haralampi Tachev is the first Bulgarian scene-painter. He was born in Plovdiv on July 19, 1875 in the family of Mariq and Kostadin Tachevi. On today`s date we celebrate 75th anniversary of his death.
Because of the early death of his father he was forced to leave school and started to work as a clerk. He learned French and Italian and stenography in evening courses. He graduated the first class of the State Drawing School (currently National Academy of Arts).
In 1900 on the recommendation of prof. Ivan Markvichka he creates the coat of arms of Sofia. Later the project undergoes certain changes and is used to the present day
Tachev is among the founders of the association "Modern Art" (1903) and its first Chairman. He also took participation in the formation of the Union of South Slavic artists "Lada" (1904). In the next years he works in various fields of fine arts. He paints landscapes, draws illustrations for newspapers and calendars, drafts of banknotes and stamps.
He involves himself in applied graphics – greetings, layout of books, posters and invitations; church murals, stained glass and heraldry. He is the author of spatial and art design of Bulgarian pavilions at world fairs in Liege (1905), Milan (1906), London (1907) and others.
In 1908-1910 he creates the Manifesto of Independence of Bulgaria.
Tachev is the creator of the decoration of many emblematic buildings in Sofia. Among them are the are patriarchal cathedral "St. Alexander Nevski", Central Mineral Baths, Central Market Hall, the Synodal Palace, the Theological Faculty of Sofia University, the mausoleum of Prince Alexander I Battenberg. Furthermore he designs the projects for the facades of the house-museum "Hristo Botev" in Kalofer, the palace "Vrana" and the church "St. Marina" in Plovdiv. He designed the stained glass in the main building of Sofia University (1930) and the building of the Ministry of Public Buildings, Roads and Communications (today the Sofia City Library) (1930-1931).
In 1911 Haralampi Tachev was appointed a full time lecturer at the State Art-Industrial School - successor to the School of Arts. For his services to Bulgarian art he was awarded the Cavalry Cross of the Order "St. Alexander", Vth degree (1920) and Officer's Cross of the Order "Civil Merit", IVth degree (1921).
Today a small street in the Sofia district of Lozenetz is named after prof. Haralampi Tachev.
The Sofia History Museum has some of the most valuable works of the artist. In his honor we are preparing a large exhibition that will present his many-sided creativity.
