The Hovnatanyan family (, Hovnat'anyanner) was a prominent Armenian family of painters. They include five generations from 17th to 19th centuries. Hovnatanyans are originally from the village of Shorot, Yernjak district in Nakhichevan (now Şurud, Julfa Rayon, Nakhichivan Autonomous Republic).
They were based in Nakhichevan, Yerevan, Tbilisi, Ejmiatsin, Saint Petersburg and Persia. Most of their works are dedicated to Christianity like other works of their era.
The surname derives from Hovnatan, the Armenian equivalent of Jonathan.
Family members Naghash Hovnatan (Նաղաշ Հովնաթան) (1661–1722) Հովնաթանյաններ – founder of the family; poet, artist, miniaturist, wall-painter, and a church clerk Harutyun Hovnatanyan (Հարություն Հովնաթանյան) (18th century) – artist and a wall-painter Hakob Hovnatanyan I (Հակոբ Հովնաթանյան) (died in 1757) – artist, miniaturist, and poet Hovnatan Hovnatanyan (Հովնաթան Հովնաթանյան) (1730s – 1801/1802) – wall-painter Mkrtum Hovnatanyan (Մկրտում Հովնաթանյան) (1779–1846) – artist, buried in Khojivank cemetery, Tbilisi. Aghaton Hovnatanyan (Աղաթոն Հովնաթանյան) (1816–1893) – artist Hakob Hovnatanyan II (Հակոբ Հովնաթանյան) (1806–1881) – artist Ruben Hovnatanyan (1940–1999) – artist
Legacy A crater on the planet Mercury is named after Hakob Hovnatanian.
Gallery
References
Նախիջևան` Գլուխ հինգերորդ
See also Armenian culture