Budapest, 1947. (3. évfolyam)

6. szám - RÁTKAI KÁROLY: Új magyar nagyoperett

BUDAPEST ILLUSTRATED HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL REVIEW PUBLISHED BY THE CITY OF BUDAPEST THE RE-OPENED NATIONAL FINE ARTS MUSEUM IN BUDAPEST The internationally famous art treasures of the National Fine Arts Museum were carried away early in 1945 and eventually arrived in Bavaria some three weeks later after a journey fraught with risks and perils. There, their presence was reported to the American forces of occupation and they were placed in the custody of the Central Art collecting point at Munich. Lovers of art all over the world owe a debt of profound gratitude to this vitally important cultural organisation which not only ensured the safekeeping and, where necessary provided for the renovation of the damaged art treasures, but in our ease also effected their prompt return to Hungary. The safe return of these art treasures is being commemorated by a special exhibition in the Fine Arts Museum. Among the one hundred and fifty or so masterpieces on show now, we find pictures by Raffael, Bolt raff io, Giorgine, Tizian, Piombo, Coreggio and Tiepolo. The Spanish school is represented by three El Greco, two Murillo and five Goya paintings ; France by Claude Lorrain. Notable among the primitive Flemish works are paintings by Petrus Cristus, David Gerard, Memling, Barend van Orley and the elder Breugel. The XVI. century Flemish school is represent ed by masterpieces from the brush of Jordaens and Van Dyck : paintings by Rembrandt, Franz Hals, Vermeer and Cuyp are amongst the Dutch paintings displayed. Also exhibited are works by Hogarth, Reynolds, Gainsborough, Raeburn, Hoppner and Lawrence. The German school is represented by Dürer, Baldung, Altdorfer and Cranach. The collection of ancient Hungarian masters and the finest pieces from the modern fureign and Hungarian collections will be presented at the next exhibition. A. Pigler THE RACE COURSES OF PEST The first horse-race to be held in Budapest was run on June 6. 1827. It must be recognised that the popularity in Hungary of the »king of sports« owes its origin to the indefatigable efforts of Stephen Széchenyi who also founded the Hungarian Academy of Science, developed riverine shipping on the Danube, introduced the silk manufacturing into Hungary, and played a vital role in the regulation of the Lower-Danube. Special interest was imparted to these races as the horses were ridden either by the peasant farmers or »csikós«, the traditional Hungarian horse-herd. Apart from the races between the farmer and csikós, there were what were known as mixed meetings in which representatives of the aristocracy pitted their skill against professional riders. Many complaints were raised in these early years and the charge made that the race-track of Pest functioned solely for the amusement of the wealthy landed classes. Széchenyi refuted this charge and added that the races should be modelled on the British pattern. The horse races were suspended during the Liberty Wars of a century ago. Whent he race-track was re-opened in 1852, the »peasant-races;« of earlier days were held in continually smaller numbers till, finally, they fell completely out of fashion. Now that the Hungarian horseracing too has been democratised following the liberation, the farmers' races have been re-instated. Generally the farmers themselves ride their own horses in such races. S. Lestyán A szabadsághegyi I \ 1 / Lw_T MAJESTIC a kényesigényű közönség pihenő- és szórakozóhelye A művészien átalakított é t te r e in és szalon fiiggőterrasza látványosság Sas ob a - é s ászt alrend elé* : 3 61-935 rf)iehiie3-OlL rPalMJthiqj HOFFMANN FERENC BUDAPEST, IV., OERLÓCZY- UTCA 5 2 24