Viktor Madarász (14 December 1830 – 10 January 1917) was a Hungarian painter in the
Romantic style. He is best known for his historical scenes and portraits.
Biography
He was born in
Csetnek, and descended from an impoverished noble family originating in
Gömör és Kis-Hont County. His father, , was an iron manufacturer and craftsman. Originally, he was destined for a career in law and went to study in
Pozsony.
[Brief biography](_blank)
(with a biography of his daughter, Adeline) @ Budapest XV District Blog.
When the
Hungarian Revolution began, he and his brother (also named András) left school to join the struggle. He was a participant in numerous actions, became a Second Lieutenant and was present during the
surrender at Világos. After hiding out briefly, he returned home on foot and joined his family in
Pécs
Pécs ( , ; ; Slovak language, Slovak: ''Päťkostolie''; also known by #Name, alternative names) is List of cities and towns of Hungary#Largest cities in Hungary, the fifth largest city in Hungary, on the slopes of the Mecsek mountains in the c ...
. He continued with his legal studies, but also began taking lessons from a local artist.
In 1853, he enrolled for preparatory work at the
Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna
The Academy of Fine Arts Vienna () is a public art school in Vienna, Austria. Founded in 1688 as a private academy, it is now a public university. The academy is also known for twice rejecting admission to a young Adolf Hitler in 1907 and 1908.
...
. Two years later, he entered the history painting class of
Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller.
[Brief biography](_blank)
@ Hungarian Visual Arts. His first historical painting, ''
Kuruc
Kuruc (, plural ''kurucok''), also spelled kurutz, refers to a group of armed anti- Habsburg insurgents in the Kingdom of Hungary between 1671 and 1711.
Over time, the term kuruc has come to designate Hungarians who advocate strict national inde ...
and
Labanc'' (depicting brothers fighting on opposite sides), was warmly received. In 1856, he went to Paris, where he studied in the studios of
Léon Cogniet and at the
École des Beaux Arts. He was also influenced by the style of
Paul Delaroche
Hippolyte-Paul Delaroche (; Paris, 17 July 1797 – Paris, 4 November 1856) was a French painter who achieved his greater successes painting historical scenes. He became famous in Europe for his melodramatic depictions that often portrayed subje ...
. His painting ''The Mourning of
László Hunyadi'' won a medal at the 1861
Salon
Salon may refer to:
Common meanings
* Beauty salon
A beauty salon or beauty parlor is an establishment that provides Cosmetics, cosmetic treatments for people. Other variations of this type of business include hair salons, spas, day spas, ...
.
He returned to Hungary in 1870, but his style was heavily criticized for being too French, and revolutionary fervor had lessened considerably.
In 1873, after especially harsh criticism of his work ''
Gábor Bethlen Among the Scholars'', he retired from painting and took over his father's business. He was so discouraged that many of his best works were virtually given away.
In 1902, his business went bankrupt and was sold at auction. The following year, he attempted to restart his artistic career by painting portraits, but they were not up to his previous standards.
He died in
Budapest
Budapest is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns of Hungary, most populous city of Hungary. It is the List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, tenth-largest city in the European Union by popul ...
, totally forgotten, during the First World War.
Selected paintings
File:Madarász Kuruc és labanc 1855.jpg, ''Kuruc and Labanc''
File:Hunyadi László a ravatalon-Madarász.jpg, ''The Mourning of
László Hunyadi''
File:Madarász, Viktor - The Dream of an Exile (Thököly's Dream, 1856).jpg, '' Thököly's Dream''
File:Madarász Dózsa's People 1868.jpg, '' Dózsa's People''
References
Further reading
*Karóly Lyka, ''Madarász Viktor, Élete És Mvei'' (Life and works, 1923), reprint by BiblioBazaar, 2011
External links
*
An appreciation of Madarászby Ödön Kacziány @ Művészet
{{DEFAULTSORT:Madarasz Viktor
1830 births
1917 deaths
Burials at Kerepesi Cemetery
19th-century Hungarian painters
20th-century Hungarian painters
History painters
Hungarian portrait painters
Painters from Austria-Hungary
People from Rožňava District
Hungarian male painters
19th-century Hungarian male artists
20th-century Hungarian male artists