Gyula Rudnay

One of the most influential masters of 20th-century painting, Gyula Rudnay was born on January 9, 1878. He spent his childhood in Pelsőc, Salgótarján, Rudabánya, Miskolc, Beje, and Tornai. His passion for painting was evident from an early age—he drew frequently and with great joy, saving every penny to buy oil paints. Between 1893 and 1894, he studied at the School of Applied Arts in Budapest, and from 1895 to 1902, he attended Simon Hollósy's free school in Munich. He also embarked on short study trips to Rome and Paris, where he met the sculptor János Pásztor, forming a lifelong friendship. His first exhibition was held in the Lotz Hall of the Great Department Store in Paris. In 1919, he visited Bábony in Somogy County for the first time, a place he later considered his second home during his regular summer stays. From 1922, he taught at the College of Fine Arts for three decades, serving as its rector for four years. He held award-winning exhibitions in Vienna (1924) and Genoa (1925). Between 1947 and 1953, he lived in Baja, where he founded an art school and established the 'People's Academy of Painting'. He received the 'Pro Arte' award in 1948 and the Kossuth Prize in 1949. Gyula Rudnay passed away in Budapest on January 4, 1957, and was laid to rest in Kerepesi Cemetery.

Ferenc Pogány

Ferenc Pogány, born Jakab Pokorny Pogány, was a Hungarian painter. He was born on December 2, 1886, in Budapest, as the son of Ferenc Pokorny, a shoemaker, and Karolina Borbála Sárek.He began his studies at the Budapest School of Decorative Arts and later became a student at the Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts. His mentors included Károly Ferenczy, Tivadar Zemplényi, and Gyula Rudnay. In 1928, his works were exhibited in a retrospective exhibition at the National Salon. He also showcased his art at the Műcsarnok (Art Hall), as well as in Szeged, Szentes, and Hódmezővásárhely. His works are preserved in the Hungarian National Gallery. Ferenc Pogány passed away on February 22, 1930, in Hódmezővásárhely. His paintings primarily depict rural life scenes and landscapes.

László Bényi

László Bényi was a Hungarian painter and art writer. He was born in 1909 in Rákosliget, where he also spent his childhood. He began his artistic studies at the Miskolc Artists' Colony under Ágost Benkhard. Later, between 1931 and 1933, he studied law at university while also attending Vilmos Aba-Novák’s free school.In 1935, he went on a study trip to Italy and Libya, among other places. After that, he worked at the Szolnok Artists' Colony, and from the 1940s, he was primarily active in the Danube Bend, especially in Zebegény and Nagymaros. After 1945, he played a key role in reorganizing several artistic circles. Between 1957 and 1970, he was a senior research fellow at the Hungarian National Gallery, where he organized several significant exhibitions. Thanks to his efforts, the art of Tivadar Csontváry Kosztka was preserved from being forgotten.His art was deeply rooted in the traditions of the Great Plain school, primarily painting still lifes, landscapes, and figurative compositions, while also capturing his travel experiences. His works are characterized by dynamic brushwork and a rich use of colors.

József Németh

József Németh was a Hungarian painter, born on October 3, 1928, in Kaposszerdahely. He studied at the Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts in Budapest, where he was mentored by Gyula Pap and István Szőnyi. He became one of the most talented representatives of the Hódmezővásárhely school, which carried forward the artistic legacy of the Great Plain school. He undertook study trips to several European countries and had been exhibiting both in Hungary and internationally since 1958. His solo exhibitions were held at the Műcsarnok (Kunsthalle) in 1961 and the Ernst Museum in 1967. In 1976, he received the prestigious Munkácsy Prize, followed by the Meritorious Artist Award in 1980 and the Outstanding Artist Award in 1985. He passed away in Hódmezővásárhely in 1994. His works primarily depict rural landscapes and peasant life, characterized by decorative stylized constructivism, an intensified use of color, and a dreamlike, mythical tone. He was also engaged in mural painting.

Lajos Deák-Ébner

Lajos Deák-Ébner was a Hungarian painter who began his studies at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts. However, his realist approach conflicted with the academy’s rigid methods, leading him to leave the institution. In 1873, he exhibited a painting at the Vienna World Exhibition, where he was influenced by contemporary French artists. This experience prompted him to move to Paris, where he became associated with László Paál, Mihály Munkácsy, and the realist-naturalist landscape painters of the Barbizon school, including Jean-François Millet. From 1874 onward, he spent many summers at the Szolnok Artists' Colony, where he was influenced by Austrian painter August von Pettenkofen. His realistic style is particularly evident in the works he painted there. In 1887, he became the director of the Women's School of Painting in Budapest. In 1890, he collaborated with Károly Lotz on the frescoes of the Tihany Abbey, and between 1895 and 1899, he painted the mural decorations in the vestibule of the Műcsarnok (Kunsthalle). The painting presented here reflects the influence of contemporary French art, characterized by a refined naturalism combined with the atmospheric colorism of plein air painting.

Sourcess:

Gyula Rudnay

Ferenc Pogány

László Bényi

József Németh

Lajos Deák-Ébner

L. G.