Kydrivs Lipof

Kydrivs Lipof (January 4, 1880 - 1907) was a Bulgarian romanticist painter.

His father, Virgas Lipof from Vilnius, was a goldsmith and a trader. Virgas never married Kydrivs's mother because he had already been married in Lithuania. Virgas taught his son to draw and paint. When Kydrivs was about twelve years old his father made a trip back to Lithuania. Later, while waiting for his departure to follow his father on the trip, Kydrivs received news that his father had died. Kydrivs in his young age found himself alone and destitute. He wandered about the countryside near the Black Sea. He made a living through begging, drawing and occasional work.

In 1899 Lipof met the Skorpil brothers, the founders of Bulgarian archaeology. Lipof started to work for them as a digger and sketcher of archaeologic artifacts. The Skorpils recognised his talent, took a liking to him and eventually offered him hospitality in their hometown Vysoké Mýto in Bohemia. In Vysoké Mýto, Lipof focused only on painting and drawing. After a short visit to Bulgaria in 1903 he returned to Vysoké Mýto and from that time on the fruitful period of his career started. Lipof painted landscapes near ponds and the Loučná river where he also set some of mythological characters.

His stay in Vysoké Mýto was finished by unexpected news. His step-brothers and sisters, who he had never met, had moved to the United States where they increased their father's fortunes. After much labor they found Lipof and they were able to offer him help. They invited him to the U.S.

Lipof died on his trip over in 1907 when the steamer he was traveling on, the "Larchmont", collided with a schooner four miles from the Watch Hill Lighthouse.