Technique: lime-based primer; fresco

Dimensions: 1080/700 cm.

He graduated in painting in 1961 at the Academy of Arts under professors Nenko Balkanski and Panayot Panayotov and the same year opened his first solo exhibition. Already at the academy, and even before that, he was lucky enough to meet great artists whose philosophy and professionalism influenced the development of the young painter – Vladimir Dimitrov-Maistora, Iliya Beshkov, Dechko Uzunov, Boris Mitov, Nikolay Raynov, Vasil Barakov, etc.

Author of abstract and realistic works, still lifes, portraits, murals, mosaics, stained glass, fresco, secco, theater and film scenography, watercolor, pastel, drawing. His formats range from monumental to miniature. His monumental works, fresco and stained glass have entered public buildings of national importance. An award-winning master of portraiture. Having left Plovdiv in the late 1970s, Hristo Stefanov has never left it in spirit or physically.
He is characterized by always introducing emblematic figures into his paintings, working in a dark color scheme.

In the monumental painting "The Fire" he depicts the greatest enlighteners of Bulgarian history.
The images of Ivan Vazov, Zahari Zograf, Georgi Rakovski, Hristo Botev, Lyudmila Zhivkova, etc. are present.
He also personifies the Bulgarian root through the "Mother with Roots", one of the most remarkable Bulgarian customs - the firework display, through the "Fireman", our folk music, which has no equivalent through the "Folk Song", etc.
"The Fire" is a metaphor for the power of culture, which keeps the flame of knowledge alive.
The mural is in a reddish-orange range, which also symbolizes fire.

Hall 7