Studio: international art (55.1912)

The Royal Hungarian Art Society

The jubilee exhibition of

THE ROYAL HUNGARIAN
ART SOCIETY, BUDAPEST.

The Royal Hungarian Art Society, Budapest, is
now celebrating the fiftieth year of its existence. It
was founded by a few artists and art lovers desirous
of the furtherance of art, and at a great material
sacrifice to them personally. Fifty years ago politi-
cal affairs were in such a turmoil that the State
had little time to trouble about art, and no funds
were available for the founding of scholarships
or prizes. The beginnings, therefore, had to be
left to private initiative, and great credit is due to
those who took the first steps when the outlook
seemed so unpromising.

The first president was the well-known Hun-
garian portraitist, Miklos Barabas, but he only
held office for a very short time, becoming vice-
president in favour of Count Julius Andrassy, the
famous statesman, who remained president of the
society till his death, a period of forty-five years.
During the Count’s presidency the society de-
veloped considerably ; indeed, much is to be traced
to his connection with it, for he was indefatigable
in his exertions on behalf of the society and at
the same time equally generous with his money.

But even before the
founding of the society
something had been done
for the propagation of art,
though at that time there
were no art schools. As
early as 1839 some few
artists had formed the
“ Pesti Miiegylet ” (Pesth
Art Society). Frequent
exhibitions were held, and
the works of Hungarian
and other artists thus made
known to their country-
men. Another society,
called the “Nemzeti
Kepcsarnok” (the National
Society of Painters), was
also started and has done
very much good work.

This society is still in
existence and prospering.

As already mentioned,
the Royal Hungarian
Society flourished exceed-
ingly under Count Julius
Andrassy’s presidency.

The first exhibition was held in June 1863. It is
memorable for the fact that Munkacsy’s famous
picture, The Soldier's Story, was purchased for the
small sum of seven pounds. The following year the
society sent a memorandum to Parliament urging
the purchase of the Esterhazy collection of pictures
for the nation. Though it took two years to settle
the matter, the final result was favourable. This
was, indeed, a great step, and an important one too,
for Hungarian art. For the Esterhazy collection
counts among the most valuable acquisitions ot
the Hungarian National Gallery, and includes two
famous Goyas, the Knife-grinder and the Water-
carrier, both of which were reproduced in the
last April number of The Studio.

Hungary can boast of many first-class artists
whose works are highly appreciated in more than
one continent. In the first rank stands Munkacsy.
Among others are Bertalan Szekely, Victor
Madarasz, Charles Lotz (who executed some very
fine frescoes), the landscape painters Antal Ligeti,
Charles Markd, senior, Gustav Keleti, Geza Meszoly,
the portraitist Barabas, Professor Julius Benczur,
Paul Szinyei-Merse, and the late Ladislas de
Paal, the last two being forerunners in their par-
ticular line of art, which they both studied in
France under the influence of the Barbizon school.

BY REZSO KISS

122

“PRAYERS (HOLLAND)