Anton Stefanov Mitov (Bulgarian: Антон Стефанов Митов; 1 April 1862, in Stara Zagora – 20 August 1930, in Sofia) was a Bulgarian painter, art critic, art historian, social activist and corresponding member of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. At the age of fifteen, his hometown was devastated by Ottoman troops, resulting in the death of over 14,000 people. Escaping with his family to Svishtov, they faced a life of poverty. Later, he found work as a clerk in Romania until Bulgaria's liberation in 1878. Determined to pursue art, he enrolled at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze in 1881 after saving money from working as a telegraph operator for two years. Under the tutelage of Giuseppe Ciaranfi, he honed his skills as an artist. Returning to Bulgaria, he worked as a journalist and teacher in Stara Zagora, Plovdiv, Varna, and Sofia. In 1896, he co-founded the National Academy of Arts in Sofia, where he taught art history, drawing, and perspective. Serving as its Director for two terms, from 1912 to 1918 and from 1924 to 1927, he made significant contributions to the academy. He participated in the decoration of the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in 1898 alongside a team of artists. As one of the first Bulgarian painters to exhibit internationally, he played a crucial role in dispelling the notion of Bulgaria as a cultural backwater. He actively engaged in politics and cultural affairs, contributing to various newspapers such as Balkan Dawn, Evening Post, World, and the magazine Art, often using pseudonyms like "Tonino" and "Arnold". Additionally, he delivered lectures and created book illustrations, including notable works for Ivan Vazov's "Under the Yoke". Although he excelled in genre art and portraits, he gained recognition for creating the first seascapes in Bulgaria. In honor of his artistic legacy, a street in Plovdiv bears his name. Notably, his brother Georgi was also a well-known painter.

Anton Mitov - Wikipedia