Marousia Vahramian

• Name — Marousia Vahramian • Native Name — ماروسيا واهراميان • Birth Name — Marousia Arakelian • Born — 15 March 1919 • Birthplace — Armavir, Russia • Died — 1 July 2012 • Place of death — Tabriz, Iran • Known for — Impressionist painting; silver engraving; theatre direction • Spouse — Grigor Vahramian Gasparbeg (m. 1953; died 1963) • Children — Vartan Vahramian • Years Active — c. 1938–2000s

Born Marousia Arakelian in an upper middle class family in Armavir, Russia, in 1919, Vahramian moved to Iran as a child when her father Gevork Arakelian resettled the family in Tabriz and became a co‑owner of an early flour factory in the city. Her parents encouraged the education of their three daughters; she attended an Armenian school and later the Russian Gymnasium in Tabriz, studying piano and foreign languages privately. She became fluent in Armenian, Persian, Turkish, Russian, French and English.

In her late teens she studied painting under (and later married) artist Grigor Vahramian Gasparbeg, who had relocated from Moscow to Tabriz. She practised classical drawing techniques in his studio, producing early black‑chalk heads (Zeus, Apollo, Socrates) and self‑portraits prior to her mature oil work. Her first exhibitions were held in Tabriz and later in Abadan and Tehran (dates variably reported).

Vahramian produced floral still lifes (roses and Persian lilacs from her garden), urban and domestic landscapes of Tabriz, and natural scenery from Urmia and Maragheh. Her drawings reflect exposure to Greco‑Roman classical forms, while her engraved silver pieces combine figurative and decorative filigree motifs (examples dated 1945, signed "M. Arakelian" / "Studio Vahramian").

In addition to painting and theatre, Vahramian studied engraving and filigree at a time when the craft in Iran was male‑dominated. Surviving signed silver plaques (e.g. an interpretation of the Brothers Grimm's "Golden Bird" and military portrait miniatures) illustrate her adaptation of narrative and mythological subject matter into metalwork.

A 30‑minute documentary titled Maroosya (dir. Navid Mikhak) portrays her preparing to stage a final theatrical piece titled Komitas. The film was screened at the Arpa International Film Festival (Hollywood), the Kazan Festival (Russia), the International Apricot Festival (Armenia), and Iran’s Cinema Vérité International Documentary Festival.

Vahramian died on 1 July 2012 in Tabriz at the age of 93.

• Illustration — Self Portrait in black chalk on white paper signed c 1943 • Illustration — Head of Socrates by Marousia Vahramian signed Marousia Arakelian Studio Vahramian 11th December 1947 • Illustration — Engraving of The Golden Bird from The Brothers Grimm fairy tale by Marousia Vahramian. This is a superb example of her engravings on silver. The engraving depicts a prince standing next to a lion holding an apple. The filigree boarder with turquoise stones are also her work. Signed M. Arakelian and dated 1945 • Illustration — Engraving on silver of a military gentleman. Engraving and filigree by Marousia Vahrmian (nee Arakelian). Work is currently held in a private collection. Dated 1945 • Illustration — Engraving of an elderly gentleman in military attire signed by Marousia Arakelian, trademarked under Studio Vahramian circa 1945. Border and filigree also by the artist herself. 12cm width x 13cm height (measurements include the filigree border) • Illustration — Drawing of Apollo in black chalk on white paper signed Marousia Arakelian and trademarked under Studio Vahramian dated 1950, Tabriz • Illustration — Drawing of Zeus in black chalk on white paper by Marosuia Vahramian circa 1950 • Illustration — Bread Baker by Marousia Vahramian dated 1941, Tabriz, signed Marousia Arakelian and trademarked under Studio Vahramian • Illustration — Profile of a European lady signed Marousia Arakelian, trademarked under Studio Vahramian and dated 1950, Tabriz • Illustration — Painting of Persian Lilacs by Marousia Vahramian.jpeg. 60cm wide x 44cm height • Illustration — Painting of Boudaghian's Garden in Tabriz by Marousia Vahramian. Signed as M.Vahramian and dated 1954. 86.5cm wide x 101.5cm height • Illustration — Painting of Boudaghian's garden in Tabriz by Marousia Vahramian- signed M Arakelian and dated 1951. 75cm wide x 100cm height • Illustration — Woodland signed M.Arakelian- Vahramian dated 1960, Tabriz • Illustration — Samuel Hovhanessian's garden in Tabriz signed Marousia Vahramian 1963. 44cm width x 59cm height • Illustration — Chrysanthemums with asparagus fern in a blue vase signed Marousia Arakelian and dated pre 1950. 68cm wide x 89cm height • Illustration — Roses and lilacs arranged in a glass jar signed by Marousia Vahramian and dated 1963. 68cm wide x 89cm height