185. A Visit to the National Hungarian Art Collection

Perched on the southern escarpment of Castle Hill in central Budapest - overlooking the Danube and the surrounding suburbs is Buda Castle - once the royal palace of the Hungarian kings including the Ottomans and the Habsburgs; first completed in 1265, and today after much rebuilding and additions over time, is now the home to the National Hungarian Art Collection, The National Library and the National History Museum.

 

 ... through the gates into the front courtyard of the Castle ...

 ... past Prince Eugene of Savoy ...

 ... and with the permission of the good fairy Tunde ( by Legeti Miklos ) ...

 
 ... to the front entrance and into the Gallery ...

My visit today is to view the The Hungarian National Gallery. The collection within the walls of the southern rooms of the Castle was established in 1957 and covers Hungarian art in all genres, including the works of many nineteenth and twentieth-century Hungarian artists who worked in Paris and other locations in the West.

Ferene Kolscy ( Hungarian poet etc ) by Istvan Ferenczy - 1845

 The massive Zrinyi sallying forth from Szigetvar by Peter Krafft - 1825

detail ...

 detail ...

 ... and the equally massive 
The Recapture of Buda Castle in 1686 
by Gyula Benczur - 1896

 gallery scene ...

  

The National Gallery houses a vast collection of Medieval, Renaissance, Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance Hungarian art - including a collection of wood altars from the 15th century.

 The Apostle Saint Paul

 and the Apostle Saint John
both by Johann Strecius the elder - c1700

 Adoring Angel by Jacob Ham - c1750

God the Son ...

God the Father ...
both by Jozsef Weber - c1750

 School kids being very attentive ...

 gallery ...

 gallery ...

 gallery ...

 gallery ...

 Altarpiece of St Martin, St John and St St Nicholas
from Csereny - 1483 

gallery ... 

... an eye-rester through the gallery window ...

Having rested my eyes gazing into the distant over the Danube, I move onto the newly refurbished 19^th Century gallery – the main attraction for me …

 

gallery ...

 Head Study by Gyorgy Zala - 1890

After the Exam by Artur Halmi - 1890

 Narcissus by Gyula Benzcur - 1881

 gallery ...

 Portrait of actress Ilka Palmay by Alajos Strobl - 1882

 Portrait of Spring by Karoly Lotz - 1894

Self-portrait by Bertalan Czekely - 1860

 Pigeon Post by Miklos Barabas - 1843

 Portait of a Woman by Alajos Hora - 1840

 Bust of Medici Venus by Istvan Ferenzcy - 1822

 Portrait of Countess Viczay
by Istvan Ferenczy - 1824

Portrait of Rosalie Schodel by Istvan Ferenczy - 1838

 gallery ...

 ... another eye-rester ...

 Gardeners by Karoly Ferenczy - 1891

 Boys Throwing Pebbles by Karoly Ferenczy - 1890

 In Front of the Posters by Karoly Ferenczy - 1891

Hay Making by Istvan Csok - 1890

Then just a little from the 20^th Century 

to finish off my visit to this wonderful set of galleries …

 Cellist by Robert Bereny - 1928

Shy Little Girl by Kornel Samuel - 1908
 

  Noemi & Beni Ferenczy by Karoly Ferenczy - 1908

Sunny Morning by Karoly Ferenczy - 1905

 Portrait of Zdenka Ticharich by Odon Marffy - 1930

 gallery ...

 Portrait of Lajos Fulep by Lajos Tihany - 1922

The New Adam by Sandor Bortnyik - 1924

 Still Life with Covered Vase by Dezso Czigany - 1926

gallery ...  

Finale by Zsigmond Strobel - 1925

 contemporary gallery ...

 ... and the final word from ...
The Head of a Woman by GIOTTO di Bondone - c1315

... the back door to the castle 
is even more impressive than the front door ...

I think that the history of a city/place/nation is best expressed through its art – that’s why it is vitally important that we keep supporting all the arts today. This vast collection of Hungarian art certainly gave me an insight to the journey of Hungary right up to present day. I came home today with a flat battery on my camera and over 250 images from the Gallery – what I have posted is just a tiny sample of the contents of the Collection.

More sculptures from my favourite type of gallery tomorrow …