Munkácsy: A Worldwide Sensation in Budapest

The Mihály Munkácsy exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts is a captivating journey into the life and works of one of Hungary’s most renowned painters. Even without prior knowledge of realist painters or his biography, Munkácsy’s classic Hungarian folk tale hero poems are enough to send chills down your spine.

From Apprentice to Master

Munkácsy started as a poor apprentice carpenter but eventually made his way to European master schools. During his nearly three decades in Paris, he became a famous and celebrated painting prince – a mandatory guest at every ball and an idol for women. He was able to sell his paintings for fortunes to American art collectors. Munkácsy was a modern artist who cleverly utilized exhibitions, the art market, and his network of connections. However, behind his success stood not only strong women but also a smart art dealer named Charles Sedelmeyer. Sedelmeyer greatly contributed to the international recognition and creation of many of Munkácsy’s paintings, including urging him to paint “Christ Before Pilate” and “Golgotha”. Sedelmeyer understood that Munkácsy needed to follow the European trends of monumental and awe-inspiring themes in order to astonish the world. With his colossal paintings, the painting prince was able to reach people beyond borders. One of the highlights of his career was creating “The Conquest of Hungary” for the construction of the Hungarian Parliament building. The 62-square-meter painting, which is also one of the highlights of the exhibition, is one of the largest in Hungarian historical painting history, and the 92,000 forints paid for it was the most expensive painting commission in Hungary at that time. As a comparison, a few years later, Szinyei Merse’s “May Day” was worth only 1800 forints to the Hungarian state.

No Need for an Occasion

In 2024-2025, we will celebrate the double anniversary of Munkácsy’s birth (180 years) and death (125 years), but the exhibition does not need any special occasion to be truly remarkable. “Munkácsy – A Success Story” works its magic even without prior knowledge or research and creates its own unique atmosphere within minutes. The exhibition presents a comprehensive collection of rare artworks, with a strong curatorial concept. In addition to his paintings, visitors can also see Munkácsy’s personal belongings such as his chair, table, easel, brushes, gold medals, and certificates awarded at the Paris Salons. Furthermore, there are studies, sketches, drawings, the artist’s sketchbook, and photos related to his paintings. One of the photos shows Munkácsy himself crucified as he stood in for the model playing Christ in “Golgotha” after the original model fell off the platform and got injured.

Raising the Bar with Each Painting

With each painting in his career, Munkácsy managed to raise the bar higher and higher. In 1867, the National Museum purchased his painting “Storm in the Puszta,” which was a huge success for the 23-year-old artist at that time. Three years later, in 1870, his painting “The House of Mourning” won a gold medal at the Paris Salon – this marked Munkácsy’s permanent place on the European map. After completing his painting “Christ Before Pilate” in 1881, it was presented during a European tour from London to Stockholm to Brussels, attracting two million visitors.

The Timeless Relevance

This type of success is no longer replicable today – perhaps only on a certain level of raw numbers. However, it is unimaginable for an influencer nowadays to have the same impact on generations living 100 or 150 years later. The recognition, universality, and societal embedding of art that Munkácsy achieved are exceptional and unparalleled. He had the most spectacular Hungarian artist career of the 19th century, appearing in Hungarian and international media for decades. And even more than 100 years later, the attention around him shows no signs of fading. It is impossible to ignore the ongoing relevance of Munkácsy’s art. Recently, the press has been covering the state’s purchase of Pákh Imre’s collection, videos documenting the transportation of Munkácsy’s masterpiece “The Conquest of Hungary” garnered record views on the museum’s social media channels, and just a few weeks ago, one of his paintings sold for 155 million forints at an auction in Budapest.

Bringing Munkácsy Back Home

It is not at all self-evident that Munkácsy can be presented in such richness in his home country, as we can see at the Szépművészeti Museum. During his lifetime, only a few of his works found their way to Hungarian public collections because he achieved most of his success abroad, with his paintings ending up in the hands of foreign buyers, often wealthy American private collectors. The fate of his two major Christ paintings is well-known – they were bought by John Wanamaker, an American department store owner and were displayed in Wanamaker’s Philadelphia department store until 1989. Every year before Easter, they were open to the public for a short period in a grand atrium show similar to their original debuts. Only in the 1990s did these paintings return home and become part of Hungarian public ownership after the state purchased them.

Conclusion

The Munkácsy exhibition at the Szépművészeti Museum offers a comprehensive and captivating exploration of Munkácsy’s life and art. Through an extensive collection of works, personal belongings, and archival materials, visitors gain a deeper understanding of the artist’s remarkable career and his enduring impact on Hungarian and international art. Munkácsy’s story continues to resonate today, showcasing the timeless relevance and ongoing fascination with his exceptional talent.

Image source: Museum of Fine Arts