Mahmoud Farshchian

Mahmoud Farshchian (; 24 January 1930 – 9 August 2025) was an Iranian painter and educator. He was a master of Persian miniature painting.

His paintings have been hosted by several museums and exhibitions worldwide.

Early life and education Mahmoud Farshchian was born on 24 January 1930, in the city of Isfahan, Imperial Iran. Farshchian's father, Gholamreza, was a Persian carpet merchant. His mother, Zahra, would often take Farshchian and his siblings to the Imamzadeh Ismail in Isfahan. Farshchian's childhood home had an area called the Chicken House, where he played with birds like sparrows, hens, and roosters. Birds are an element Farshchian often uses in his pieces, relating to his childhood memories. Young Mahmoud showed an interest in arts quite early in life and studied under the tutelage of Haji Mirza-Agha Emami and Isa Bahadori for several years.

After receiving his diploma from Isfahan's High School for the Fine Arts, Farshchian left for Europe, where he studied the works of the great western masters of painting. He had a doctorate (grade 1 in arts) in Iranian painting and Islamic arts from the High Council of Culture and Art.

Career Upon his return to Iran, he began to work at the National Institute of Fine Arts (which later became the Ministry of Art and Culture) and, in time, was appointed director of the Department of National Arts and professor at the University of Tehran's School of Fine Arts.

In the 1950s, he taught at Jalil Ziapour's School of Decorative Arts for Boys in Tehran. One of his students was painter Faramarz Pilaram.

Personal life and death Farshchian married his childhood friend, Niadokht (Nia), in 1955. Nia was 17 and Farshchian was 24.

Yasmin died at the age of 30, and had two children named Jennie and Masoud. Farshchian and Nia eventually adopted Yasmin's children and brought them to Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, where the Farshchians had moved to in 1983. He was buried in Saeb Mausoleum in Isfahan on 18 August 2025.

Style and aesthetic

Master Farshchian Museum, Saadabad Palace، Tehran

Farshchian is the founder of his own school of Iranian Painting, which adheres to classical forms while incorporating new techniques to extend the scope of the tradition. His work moves away from the historically close relationship between Iranian painting and poetry and literature, developing the art form as an independent discipline. His paintings are characterized by a combination of traditional and contemporary elements, which he has identified as the basis of his distinct approach to the medium.

Master Farshchian played a decisive role in introducing Iranian art to the international art scene. He was invited to speak and exhibit at numerous universities and art institutes. There have been six books and countless articles published about Farshchian's works. In 2007, British-Omani designer Amr Ali used Farschian's painting The Fifth Day of Creation as the main influence for his collection presented at London Fashion Week.

Books Painting and drawing (1976) Master Farshchian's paintings in Shahnameh of Ferdowsi (1991) Painting of the great heroes of Shahnameh (1991) Mahmoud Farshchian Volume II Selected By UNESCO (1991) Master Farshchian's paintings in Divan of Hafez (2002) Master Farshchian's paintings in Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam (2004) Mahmoud Farshchian Volume III Selected By UNESCO (2004)

Awards 2011 – DeviantART, Daily Deviation for Apr 6. 2010 – DeviantART, Daily Deviation for Jun 26. 2010 – DeviantART, Daily Deviation for Mar 27. 2009 – DeviantART, Daily Deviation for Dec 13. 2001 – GODIVA Chocolates 75th Anniversary, USA 2001 – Who's Who in the 21st Century, Cambridge, England 2000 – Outstanding intellectuals of the 21st Century, Cambridge, England 1995 – Gold Medal, Highest Honor 1987 – Golden Palm of Europe 1985 – Oscar D'Italia, gold statuette. 1984 – Vessillo Europa Delle Arte, gold statuette. Italy 1983 – Diploma Accadenu'co D'Europa, L'Accademia D'Europa. Italy 1983 – Diploma Maestro Di Pittura, II Seminario d'Arte Moderna. Italy 1982 – Diploma Di Merito, Universita Delle Arti. Italy 1980 – Academia Italia delle Arti e del Lavoro, gold medal. 1973 – Ministry of Culture and Art, 1st prize in art. Iran 1958 – International Art Festival, gold medal. Belgium 1952 – Military Art, gold medal. Iran