Artist Munkácsy Celebrated as 'National Genius' at New Exhibition Opening in Budapest

  • 27 Nov 2024 6:02 AM
Artist Munkácsy Celebrated as 'National Genius' at New Exhibition Opening in Budapest
Hungarian painter Mihaly Munkacsy's works are "a manifestation of homeland and national genius", the speaker of parliament said on Tuesday at the opening of a new exhibition of the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest.

The jubilee exhibition marking the 180th anniversary of the birth and 125th anniversary of the death of Munkacsy puts his lesser-known works on show in addition to his major works and runs until March 30, 2025. From the most difficult personal and historical circumstances, Munkacsy rose to the highest echelons of Hungarian fine art, Laszlo Kover said.

He also noted that the painting Honfoglalas, which has hung in the Office of Parliament since 1929, has been donated to the exhibition, and plans are to ensure a suitable location for the work for the long term so that visitors can view it without restrictions.

Reka Krasznai, the show's curator, said that for the first time in the history of Munkacsy solo exhibitions his works are being presented in an international context, elucidating his influences and connections. The exhibition, she added, was a testament to a "sensational career and a true Hungarian global success story".

Laszlo Baan, the museum's director, noted the stratospheric rise of the artist, adding that in spite of his fame, he never omitted to help young artists who turned to him.

From the Museum of Fine Arts:

The large-scale exhibition on the occasion of the 180th anniversary of the birth and 125th anniversary of the death of Mihály Munkácsy (1844–1900) features more than a hundred works of art, archival photographs, documents, and cult objects, which help to gain an even better understanding of the life, achievements and incomparably rich oeuvre of one of the most famous Hungarian painters.

The main objective of the jubilee exhibition is to chart Munkácsy’s artistic success story, presenting his well-known works from a new perspective, through the lens of his ground-breaking career. In addition to Munkácsy’s major works, the exhibition also presents his lesser-known, rarely or never seen paintings: through hidden masterpieces borrowed from private collections and abroad, it sheds light on the social and cultural factors and influences that influenced the artist’s career, which unfolded in the 1870s and 1880s, and contributed to his fame and the development of the Munkácsy cult that continues to this day.

More:
mfab.hu/exhibitions/munkacsy-story-of-a-worldwide-sensation

Source: 
MTI - The Hungarian News Agency, founded in 1881.

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