Nikola Mihaylov

Bulgarian-born painter Nikolay Mihaylov moved to Berlin in 1911. He rapidly won a great reputation as one of the most sought-after portraitists by high society persons in Germany and the United States, painting politicians, royalties, celebrities and movie stars, including Kaiser Wilhelm II, Paul von Hindenburg, Gustav Stresemann, Adolf Hitler and Anna May-Wong. Mihaylov traveled the world for portrait commissions and exhibitions, but remained completely uninfluenced by modern art movements.

He studied primarily in München, but also in London and Paris, married his German student Ida Mugler and became a professor at the Academy of Painting in Sofia. At this time, he was still painting a variety of subjects. After controversies, he moved to Berlin and developed an anachronistic, eclectic style. After much of his work in Berlin was destroyed, Mihaylov went to Hamburg after World War II. There, he mainly painted industry tycoons and their families. At the time of his death, he held German citizenship.