Yakim Kazandziev Banchev, born on 6th August 1884 in Lovech, Bulgaria. Well know Bulgarian military painter, who visited Macedonia with the Bulgarian army during Balkan Wars. Studied art before 1904 at the Fine Art Academy “Alberina” in Тorino, Italy, together with some leading Bulgarian painters like Nikola Ganushev and Maksim Tzankov. Winner of multiple medals during the study years, including golden medal for annual painting competition. Banchev went to USA for painting specialization. Known for his nude act paintings and exceptional figurative technique. His paintings are in the Museum of Military History in Sofia.
One of his Macedonian works titles as The Valley of Vardar” is in the collection of the fine art gallery “Values” in Sofia.

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Where is the grave of Gerard Chowne?
For some painters, Macedonia was their final destination. Gerard Henry Tilson Chowne (1875 India – 1917 Macedonia) was a British painter that was educated at