Most of the documentations are the result of the activity of art teachers; from the second half of the 19th century many of those who collected and studied monument protection and ethnographical material came from their ranks. Other works shown were done by graphic artists and painters who also strove to create a record of the cultural treasures of the Hungarian people.

The authors? work was nourished from various directions and by a variety of intellectual trends. The works included in the exhibition guide the visitor to different regions of Transylvania, showing the wooden churches of the Kalotaszeg, Mezőség and Szilágyság regions, the church-castles of Székelyföld and the fortified churches of Szászföld. They clearly show that the monumental stone fortified churches and church-castles also served for defence. It is a characteristic feature of the wooden church that it evolved from the dwelling house, but a few elements of the major style periods can be observed in their structure, such as the tall church tower of Gothic origin, or the porch, an element of Renaissance style.

These are less well known artists, their works rarely appear in auction catalogues or at auctions, but the paintings and drawings done on the spot show that they used the tools of documentation (drawing, photography, description) to do very important art historical work with the requisite expertise and training. Their images and drawings have preserved altered and demolished churches, bell towers and now lost church furnishings for later generations."

On display until 26 February 2012.

Source: Museum of Ethnography

Address: 1055 Budapest, Kossuth Lajos tér 12.
Telephone: 36/1/4732-440