Hasan Rıza

Hasan Rıza (1858, Istanbul – 16 March 1913, Edirne) was a Turkish military painter from the Ottoman Empire. He was killed during the Balkan Wars, and is considered to be a "Şehit" (martyr).

Biography His father was Miralay (Colonel) Şakir Bey. He began painting at an early age, and studied at the Kuleli Military High School. In 1876, as did many of his classmates, he volunteered to serve in the Russo-Turkish War, and was wounded in the forehead. While recuperating, he noticed a newspaper story about an Italian painter who was working the front lines as a war artist. He applied to be the painter's bodyguard, and the request was granted. When he showed him some of his work, a friendship developed.

He also taught at various schools, including the , founded by the mathematician and educator, Mehmet Nadir. He later became principal of the local technical school, which was used as a hospital, also under his direction, during the Balkan Wars.

Legacy In 2015, to honor Hasan Rıza Bey, the name of Edirne Fine Arts High School was changed to “Edirne Şehit Ressam Hasan Rıza Fine Arts High School.”

On March 26, 2017, on the exact 104th anniversary of his death, a statue of him sculpted by Müslüm Özcan was erected in the city where he was killed by Bulgarian troops.