Studio: international art (55.1912)

The Royal Hungarian Art Society

The year 1877 marks a very great event in the
history of the Royal Hungarian Art Society, for in
that year the society saw the completion of a
building of its own, which was opened by
King Francis Joseph. Two years later the Royal
Hungarian School of Art was founded under the
directorship of Professor Julius Benczur, who was
recalled to his native country from Munich for this
purpose. So the way was paved for future de-
velopments. Art students were no longer forced to
go abroad for art training as heretofore, for now
full facilities were provided for them in their own
land.

The society continued to prosper, and in
1896 the present Royal Hungarian Academy
(“ Miicsarnok ”) was opened. Since 1901 there
have been frequent international exhibitions, so
that art lovers in Hungary have had an opportunity
of becoming acquainted with works of art by
foreign artists. It is interesting to note that the
work of British artists has
always been received with
warm appreciation. This
is shown by the fact that
many have been recipients
of the gold medals and
other prizes awarded by
the society. A few names
taken haphazard will serve
to show that as regards
nationality Catholicism has
been shown in the dis-
tribution of all the awards :

Arnold Bocklin, Josef
Israels, Van der Stappen,

Lenbach, Austen Brown,

Solomon J. Solomon,

Walter Gay, Oliver Hall,

Franz Stuck. It is hardly
necessary to say that many
of the prizes and scholar-
ships founded by private
individuals are only avail-
able for Hungarian artists.

King Francis Joseph takes
a keen interest in this
society, though rarely able
to visit the exhibitions. His
Majesty gives donations
every year from his
privy purse, makes
numerous purchases of
works, and in honour ot
the society’s jubilee has

founded an annual prize of the value of 5000
kronen.

The exhibition just held was of interest quite
apart from its being the jubilee one. The pictures
were better hung and on the whole of better average
quality than usual. There was less crowding, and
the lighting arrangements have been considerably
improved.

But few portraits were shown on this occasion.
Among the artists who showed works of this kind
or other figure subjects Professor Benczur, Philip
Laszld, Oszkar Glatz, Istvan Csok, Bertalan Karl-
ovszky, and Aladar Kriesch-Korosfoi must be
specially mentioned.

Professor Benczur’s portraits of Dr. Sando)
Wekerle and Count Istvan Tisza must both be
regarded as notable achievements, the work of
a true artist. He also contributed some other
works of a high standard. Laszlo’s portrait of
Miss East (daughter of Sir Alfred East) wo