Who also painted the construction of the Chain Bridge: Miklós Barabás died 125 years ago
We can confidently say that Miklós Barabás was one of the most outstanding artists of the Reform era, the first painter who earned the respect of society with his artistic work. During his long career, he made portraits of many important and well-known personalities, including Mihály Vörösmarty, János Arany, Ferenc Deák, Palatine Joseph, and even Franz Joseph. The capital also often provided the subject of his pictures. He achieved great success with his paintings, and the press regularly reported on his current works. It was thanks to his exceptional talent that he managed to gain fame at a time when the work of painters was not yet highly valued.
The new Petőfi exhibition opened at the PIM addresses the 21st-century people
In honour of Petőfi, who was born 200 years ago, a new, large-scale permanent exhibition opened today, 14 January, at the Petőfi Literary Museum (PIM). The institution's undisclosed goal was to bring the poet's work closer to the people of the 21st century, to our everyday lives: the importance of home, the importance of friends or the sacrifice made for our loved ones are all topics that we can easily identify with. Artefacts, special scenery and multimedia tools also help us to get familiar with the work of the poet. Topics that are still relevant today, in Petőfi's interpretation.
"Life without music is incomplete and not worth living", said Zoltán Kodály who was born 140 years ago
Zoltán Kodály is one of the greatest figures in Hungarian music literature, who was not only an exceptionally talented composer but also a researcher and teacher. He began his work as a folk song collector in 1905 and presented his own works to the public in 1910, and Psalmus Hungaricus, written in 1923, was a huge international success. His music pedagogy method is still used in education today. The composer's former home on Kodály Körönd now houses the memorial museum named after him.
From the Curia's building to the City Park: the Hungarian National Gallery opened 65 years ago
The Hungarian National Gallery is one of the best-known institutions in the country and the capital, which celebrates its 65th anniversary this year. The institution, which collects masterpieces of Hungarian art, opened its doors to visitors on 5 October 1957 in its first home, in the Curia's building on Kossuth Square designed by Alajos Hauszmann, to which the Museum of Ethnography later moved. It occupied its current location, buildings B, C and D of the Buda Castle, in 1975. Within the framework of the Liget Project, the plans for the new home have already been drawn up, although its implementation is still pending.
The gift of the King: the legend of the ten statues
It has been 125 years since Franz Joseph gave ten statues to Budapest on 25 September 1897. Most of the statues are still elegant decorations of the city to this day, and Pestbuda reported about them several times. However, we have now looked into what could have prompted Franz Joseph to give a gift.
Polish-Hungarian two good friends - the calvary of István Báthory's sculpture in Budapest
The friendship between the Polish and Hungarian people goes back centuries, and it was founded by the kings ruling in the Middle Ages. One of the most important of them was István Báthory, who also acquired the Polish throne as a Transylvanian prince. His memory was cherished between the two world wars, and in 1933 - on the four hundredth anniversary of the monarch's birth - there were plans to erect a statue to him in Budapest, which was finally put in place only a quarter of a century later.
A forgotten monument on Szabadság Square - The messages of the Relic National Flag
Szabadság Square is still home to many statues and monuments today, and it was no different in the first half of the 20th century. After the Trianon peace decree, the allegorical statues commemorating the separated parts of the country were erected here, and then the National Flag. The latter's idea was formulated in August 1927 - ninety-five years ago - and was followed by action half a year later.
Throughout the city, you can admire the statues of György Zala, who died 85 years ago
György Zala owes the central sculpture group of the Millennium Monument on Hősök Square with the Archangel Gabriel to György Zala, as well as the original Andrássy and István Tisza statues in Kossuth Square, or the dignified seated statue of Queen Elizabeth in today's Döbrentei Square. Zala was one of the busiest sculptors of his time, and his legacy has an architectural aspect: his villa in Pest was designed by none other than the master of Art Nouveau, Ödön Lechner.
The imposing Baroque Hall of the Museum of Fine Arts has opened
In addition to the Renaissance Hall and the Romanian Hall, the almost renovated Baroque Hall of almost 800 square meters will also be available to the public from tomorrow. The last three large museum squares displaying and stylizing architectural styles were last opened simultaneously for 80 years.
Gift of Franz Joseph - the statue of Miklós Zrínyi and Gábor Bethlen was inaugurated on Kodály Körönd 120 years ago
King Franz Joseph decided 125 years ago to donate ten statues to the nation, and he himself would cover the costs of making public works of art that would depict the famous personalities of the Hungarians. The first two of these monuments were inaugurated 120 years ago on the Kodály Körönd, but today only the first of the statues of Miklós Zrínyi and Gábor Bethlen can be seen in its original location. On the occasion of the anniversary, we followed the fate of the statues of the Kodály Körönd in the last century.
Masterpieces of tomb art on Fiumei Road - The graveyard that is known as a sculpture park
The Fiumei Road Cemetery deserves special attention not only as a resting place for the country's greats, but also the sculptures and works of art belonging to the tombs are invaluable. From now on, visitors can use their phones to get to know them more thoroughly: they can read about the most outstanding sculptures and their creators with the help of a QR code.
A statue of the Polish poet Adam Mickiewicz was erected in Óbuda
The statue of the Polish poet Adam Mickiewicz was inaugurated in the park named after him in Óbuda. It was said at the ceremony that this is one example of Polish-Hungarian friendship, as while Sándor Petőfi has a statue in Warsaw and a street named after him, one of the greatest figures in Polish literature, Mickiewicz, has now been erected in Budapest.
The meeting of a unique sculptor and the cult of Arany - Description of a period with the help of a 130-year-old famous monument in Pest
130 years ago the first public statue of János Arany was inaugurated in front of the main entrance of the Hungarian National Museum. In a new book that has just been published, not only is the entire history of the monument and the adventurous life of its creator, Alajos Stróbl, revealed to the readers, but they can also see how the people of the 19th century thought and debated, what they considered beautiful and right, what they were different from or just similar to people now. The book, which is also rich in images, is both a colourful introduction and an exciting description of a period.
Colourful memento about a brilliant architect - The Postal Palace became the main work of Gyula Sándy
Finding and viewing pieces of the architectural heritage of a city with a long history is an eternal tourist hit. Budapest stands out in this area mostly with the legacy of dualism and the two world wars: almost everyone have encountered the names of Miklós Ybl, Imre Steindl or Ödön Lechner, but if we dig deeper, it is impossible to list how many undeservedly lesser-known talents contributed to the decoration of the Hungarian capital. The building of the Buda Postal Palace, which adorns the south-western side of Széll Kálmán Square, is also connected to such a genius: a remarkable volume came out this year about Gyula Sándy's life and work, both from a professional and a layman's point of view.
The garden of revolution and love - A Museum Garden Guide from a new angle
One of the most charming open-air venues in the city centre is the Museum Garden, which once again shines in its full splendour: looking at its sculptures and memorial plaques, or relaxing on one of the museum’s steps and benches, can reminds us of the rich past of this special historical site. This extraordinary richness is illustrated by a gap-filling publication, the Museum Garden Guide, which - worthy of its title - guides us through the garden, recalling the events of the past, with many surprises in store for the reader.
The Adria Palace in the storm of history
The book titled Hazának használj! Az Adria-palota története [Help the Homeland! The History of the Adria Palace] was recently published, which not only presents the history of the nearly 120-year-old building in Szabadság Square, which is currently under renovation, but also provides an insight into the lives of the former owners and celebrities who lived here.
Downloadable album released about 90-year-old freeport in Csepel
The 260-page publication showcases the 90-years history of the Csepel Freeport. Beyond photographs, the album contains unique historical documents.
Budapest and love
A small collection of poems from Hungarian poets was published recently. Naturally, it is connected to Budapest. The pages of the booklet are decorated with pictures of statues found around Budapest.
Defined by Ybl and Lechner
When asked to name Hungarian architects, most people will likely mention Miklós Ybl and Ödön Lechner. This is no coincidence; the two architects were prolific and important artists is their age. But how much do people know about their time and their contemporaries? The new volume Ylb és Lechner vonzásában provides information on these.
Népliget's landscape architecture idea competition has ended
Sixteen entries were received for Népliget's landscape architecture idea competition, which closed today. Although the evaluation will begin soon, the renovation of Budapest's 130-hectare public park will have to wait a few more years: the implementation of the first phase in the capital's Dezső Radó Plan was only planned for 2027.
Mini forest, bushes, rows of trees: green developments from Főkert in 2023
This year, Főkert will renew several rows of trees in Budapest, plant 12,000 trees and make a mini-forest. Several previously started works are continuing, including park renovations, and benches are being placed in the small forests planted last year.
Call for applications for the greening of inner courtyards and street facades
The Budapest City Council announced a tender for the creation of greener, more flowery inner courtyards and the greening of street facades.
Háros, the beauty of the southern ends
The capital's natural beauties are quite scattered. This is perhaps fortunate in that every district has at least one park, forest or waterfront. During this trip, Pestbuda will take a look at the southernmost part of the main branch of the Danube near Budapest. The region where the wide, slow-flowing Danube has been touching the quiet settlements for thousands of years. This region is the most beautiful part of the 22nd District along the Danube: Háros.
