Czeglédi Imre: Munkácsy Békés megyében (A Békés Megyei Múzeumok Közleményei 26. Békéscsaba, 2004)

RESUME Mihály Munkácsy (1844-1900) was the most successful Hungarian painter of the 19

th century. He fought his way up from an orphaned , journeyman joiner to the most celebrated artist of the century. This work contributed to his career, but it was also supported by some helping hands. Munkácsy, himself, contributed to his romantic biography as well, as he had written the story of his childhood until becoming a painter in the 1880s, when he was 19. His memory was written in French, and was published in his life with the title "Souvenirs". The impression of the naturalism of his friend - Alfonz Daudet - influenced him by drawing of his memories, pointing out the horrible experience of the misery, his childhood inconsistency with the adult's life. Most of the stories in his biography are related to Békés County. The researcher fellow wondered how he could prove the truth of the events in his memories, how he could identify the people and the spots. The other question was if it was possible to complete the experience of Munkácsy 's childhood, and throughout his life he was searching for the later connection between the artist and the county. His research extended also to Arad, which is near to Békés County, because the years he spent in Arad were in connection with the life he spent in Békés County. His research was not in vain. The first part of Munkácsy's biography was based on the permanent opposition of the child Miska and uncle Stephen Reök - who brought him up - because the cheerless, rough bachelor caused a lot of bitterness to Miska. At the beginning the author states the identity of Stephen Reök. The younger brother of Munkácsy 's mother who lived in Budapest and worked as a lawyer of good reputation was one of those young man who worked in the preparatory committee of the Hungarian Revolution in 1848. As a town clerk of the association he could live amongst the high society (writers, scientists, politicians). These people were driven by one thought: serving and improving the country. The years he spent in Budapest characterised his actions and personality. He disliked inactivity, all the time wanting to be useful within the community and for the country. After the failure of the War of Independence in 1848-49 he escaped to his aunt, Mrs Steiner, who lived in Békéscsaba. He began to work in agriculture, and against his intention he stayed there for 27 years, until he died. At that time Békéscsaba was a small farming settlement with 30,000 inhabitants. When he came to Békéscsaba his daughter died and his wife left him. The failure of the War of Independence and losing his family made him unhappy. At that time the orphaned Miska, who lived a carefree life in his flat in Miskolc was lucky to be able to spend the daytime by his aunt's. However, Mrs Steiner was killed in a highwayman attack. Munkácsy described the attack in details, and it is true woed by word, because the documents in the archive proved. Miska moved to the main square of Csaba, next to the Vidovszky family. He regarded Mrs Vidovszky as his "third mother" and emphasized his gratitude to her with his life till the day he died. Meanwhile uncle Reök moved into a farm in Gerendás with Maria Omaszka, but they could not get married that time, because he could not divorce his first wife by the law. Maria Omaszka became his wife later. He sent Miska, who was 11 years old, to be a journeyman joiner. The most sorrowful part of Munkácsy 's life began at that time. During the apprentice years he spent there, he wrote the most natural memories, as György Lang he drew the Cruel Master. The author identified one part of the participants and put the memories into chronological order. They were rearranged after three decades. After deciding to be a bachelor - against Munkácsy 's biography - he did not leave György Lang immediatelly, but he worked as an assistant for a few months. It was at the end of October 1858 when he travelled to Arad to begin his obligatory three roving years. In Arad he met some students from Békéscsaba, but the declasse could be felt in their relationship. 165