A Herman Ottó Múzeum évkönyve 49. (2010)

Matits Ferenc-Olbert Mariann: Petrasovszky Leó és Emmánuel festőművészek munkássága

THE WORKS OF THE ARTISTS LEÓ AND EMMANUEL PETRASOVSZKY Leó Petrasovszky Jr. (1896-1981) and Emmánuel Petrasovszky (1902-1976), both Hungarian painters, were of Polish ancestry, whose families originated from the borderland of historical Hungary with Poland. The northern territories of Hungary were annexed to Czechoslovakia after World War 1, in accordance with the terms of the peace treaty. The annexation meant a turn for the worse for the Hungarian speaking population of the affected territories, and many Hungarians fled to Hungary, among them the Petrasovszky family, who eventually settled down in Sátoraljaújhely. The Petrasovszky brothers went to secondary school in Eperjes (Presov, Slovakia), with Emmánuel completing his studies in Sátoraljaújhely. Both young lads were blessed with artistic talent and thus they continued their studies in Budapest. Leó studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts, while Emmánuel first studied sculpture at the Academy of Applied Arts, graduating with honours after deciding to study decorative painting. Leó was employed as an art teacher, first in Sopron and later in Pécs, where he lived until the close of World War 2. He moved to Sátoraljaújhely after the war. He organised several art study circles. His paintings were regularly exhibited. Leó's preferred subjects were portraits and landscapes, and he also assisted Emmánuel in his works prepared for churches. Emmánuel made several trips to Italy with István Takács, a fellow-student from Mezőkövesd with whom he later collaborated on several artistic projects, to study the artistic and fresco painting techniques of the Italian masters of the Renaissance and the Baroque. Emmánuel lived in Sátoraljaújhely from 1931 and received several ecclesiastic commissions. Although his works can be principally found in County Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén, he also worked in other parts of the country, for example in the Greek Orthodox pilgrim church at Máriapócs, where he designed some of the church's interior furnishings (the stained glass windows) and painted the altarpieces. He also created book illustrations. Emmánuel published several papers and studies on art theory in the 1930s. His works can be found not only in churches, but also in public collections and in private ones assembled by friends and art collectors. The two brothers played an important role in the cultural life of Sátoraljaújhely. They are ranked among the outstanding artists of Greek Catholic ecclesiastic art of the 20th century. Ferenc Matits-Mariann Olberl 378