Archívum - A Heves Megyei Levéltár közleményei 19. (Eger, 2010)

TANULMÁNYOK, KÖZLEMÉNYEK - Kárbin Ákos: Lukács László „főfinánc” Eger város „szabottelvű” követe 1896-ban • 137

Péter Kiss: The Dobó statue in Eger at Dobó square

It was János Balogh anny lieutenant who first proposed setting up a Dobó statue in Eger in 1882. The municipality of the town supported the concept and they began to organize its realization. This initiative later faded away. In 1898 József Kösztler came forward with a suggestion on making the statue. According to the contemporary sources nobody seemed to remember the proposal made by János Balogh even though Valér Maczki offered the proceeds of his small publication in 1894 (a fact attested by the cover of this book) to be donated to the foundation for the Dobó statue.

It was a several years' long continuous process that led from József Kösztler's initiative to the making of the statue. The statue was based on István Dobó's tomb which is kept in the castle of Eger. For the statue of István Mek- csey, it was a teacher (Imre Breznay) from the teacher's training college of Eger who served as a model. The statue of tire lady on her knees symbolizing the women of Eger, was portrayed after Róza Hajdú a well-known model of the time. The sculpture was made in 1907 by Alajos Stróbl in accordance with the details of the order. It was inaugurated on 18 August 1907 during the 17. National Song Festival. Géza Gárdonyi also contributed to the realization of the project. Following the request of the sculpture committee he made two public calls for donation, one of which was addressed to the citizens of Eger, the other one was addressed to all Hungarian citizens. Today the Dobó statue still stands in its original place.

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