BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 6. bp has supported
the publication of an art book dedicated to the 200th anniversary
of Mirza Gadim Iravani – one of the most distinguished figures in
Azerbaijan’s art history and the founder of the Azerbaijani school
of realistic painting.


The book was publicly presented today at an event hosted by
bp.


The publication, titled “Mirza Gadim Iravani: In the Light of
Vivid Colours,” is aligned with the Decree of the President of the
Republic of Azerbaijan dated 14 February 2025 on celebrating the
artist’s 200th jubilee.


Addressing today’s event, Bakhtiyar Aslanbayli, bp’s vice
president for the Caspian region, said: “We are truly proud to join
the people of Azerbaijan in honouring one of the great names in the
country’s artistic heritage - Mirza Gadim Iravani, who masterfully
blended the decorative aesthetics of classical medieval miniature
art with the principles of realistic easel painting, creating a
unique artistic language and a highly original personal style.


“Iravani’s invaluable legacy, rightly regarded as a turning
point in the evolution of Azerbaijani art and as the transition
from the traditional decorative school to a new, professional
realist approach in painting, has raised him to a prominent place
in the national fine arts. We hope that the book presented today
will be warmly received by Azerbaijani art lovers and will serve as
a meaningful contribution to further research into and wider
recognition of this great artist’s legacy.”


Beyond his significance in the history of Azerbaijani art,
Iravani’s legacy provides invaluable insight into the history,
culture, lifestyle, architectural traditions and artistic styles of
his time.


The book offers a comprehensive overview of Iravani’s artistic
legacy as both an ornamental painter and a portraitist. It also
provides valuable historical insight into the life and creative

The publication brings together a series of scholarly articles,
including studies of Iravani’s works preserved in international
museum collections, analyses of the artworks that adorn palatial
interiors, and examinations of the evolution and interpretation of
his artistic legacy. Taken together, these materials form an
important scientific and cultural resource.







The book also reviews historical sources that reference
Iravani’s works and presents photographs accompanied by detailed
descriptions of most of the artist’s known works preserved today in
various museums around the world, including the Azerbaijan National
Art Museum.


The author of the 224-page, exquisitely produced art and
research publication is Nargiz Jabbarli, Doctor of Philosophy in
Philology and Associate Professor. The foreword is written by Galib
Gasimov, Doctor of Philosophy in Art. The book also draws on the
work of a number of other scholars who have researched Iravani’s
legacy, including the late Ziyadkhan Aliyev, a distinguished
Azerbaijani art critic and researcher, Honoured Art Worker of
Azerbaijan, and Doctor of Philosophy in Art History, as well as
Natalya Miklashevskaya, Kerim Kerimov, Rasim Efendi, Nazim Mustafa,
Telman Ibrahimov, Khazar Zeynalov, and others.


The publication forms part of a broader cultural heritage
project supported by bp. In addition to the book on Mirza Gadim
Iravani, the project includes three major research publications on
Azerbaijani carpets authored by Dr Kubra Aliyeva, as well as a
four-volume scholarly study on the history and development of
Azerbaijan’s national cinematography by the renowned film
researcher Aydyn Kazymzade.


The remaining books included in this art project will be
publicly presented later this year.


This project reflects bp’s ongoing commitment to supporting
initiatives that preserve and promote Azerbaijan’s rich cultural
heritage.


The total value of the project, covering the development and
publication of all eight books, is 308,498 AZN (approximately
$181,470). The project is implemented by the Initiatives and
Projects Centre (Təşəbbüslər və Layihələr Mərkəzi).