Ervand Demirdjian (1870-1938)

The 1st Armeno-Egyptian visual artist in modern times; Ervand Toros Demirdjian was born on May 24, 1870, at Yeni Kapu, a quarter of Constantinople, where he spent his childhood. His family consisted of his father and an elder brother, his mother, three sisters and himself. His grandfather was a blacksmith; hence his family name was Demirdjian (demirdgy in Turkish means blacksmith). After ending his elementary studies at the local Armenian school, in 1885 he entered the recently established (1882) School of Fine Arts in Constantinople and graduated in 1890 with honors. In 1893, encouraged and accompanied by Arshag Tchobanian (1872-1954),

read more...