Tanulmányok Budapest Múltjából 27. (1998)

PICTURES OF THE LAST CORONATION IN HUNGARY - Katalin Földi Dózsa: HISTORY OF THE EXHIBITED PICTURES

It was not only the lack of time, there were other hindrances, too. In addition to the eventual difficulties caused by the weather, it was December, the coronation was to take place in the third year of the war with shortage in both of material and manpower. According to Károly Kos the situation seemed to be hopeless, so he had recourse to the Defence Ministry's help. From then on they were supported in every sense. Both Kos and Györgyi could use a military personal car. This didn't mean only that for sounding of the horn policemen sprang to attention, but military trucks transported materials and soldiers worked on the sites according their disposal and all they deemed to be necessary could be acquired. Bánffy reported further unexpected difficulties, too. On December 29th late in the afternoon Bánffy was called by the Master of the Horse

16 and received the instruction to remove the red velvet drapery enclosing decoration of Szent György tér over the entrance of the Palace, since His Majesty's horse might get frightened of it. Bánffy tried to persuade him that no horse would get frightened of such a thing. The aristocrate agreed with him, but in vain, the order of the King could not be changed. Later there was an even stranger request: to design a stool-like facility in front of the church to make it easier for the King to mount the horse.

17 According to Bánffy who was a man of tact: "this is a much more difficult job. It might had been an unusual sight for a nation accustomed to horses and that would have called for some explantation.

18 Finally he found an ingenious solution. The stairs were concealed in low wall-like decoration-elements in front of the baldachin, left and right. The public thought they were necessary in order to protect the gate. Róbert K. Kertész recorded accurately the financial data of the artistic activity. Interior decoration of the church costed 550.000 Kr, 1200 m of white silk and 6000 m of red velvet were used up, 1700 silver crosses and 350 golden flowers-de-luce were applicated. 25 industrial firms, 33 upholsterers, 21 various kinds of other craftsmen, 54 scaffolders, 60 electricians and 8 cleaning women took place in the works. The cost for the oath stage amounted to 60.000 Kr and three firms executed it. The decoration of the processional routes including that of the Coronation Hill costed 570.000 Kr. Kertész did not state the number of firms being active there, mentioning only that admission cards had been given to more than 1800 workers. The coronation At half past seven

19 on December 30th a cannon, shot at the Citadel on Gellérthegy announced the beginning of the ceremony. In the cupola hall of the Houses of Parliament baron Samu JÓSIKA, president of the Upper House, opened the Coronation Session, which had a single item on the agenda, coronation of King Charles IV. Károly SZÁSZ president of the House of Representatives suspended the common session of both Houses for the period of the coronation to make it possible for the representatives to go up to the Castle. In the meantime the countydelegations' and town-deputations' richly coloured procession, with host of flags, had begun already at Szentháromság tér. The coaches of the archdukes and other notabilities arrived in front of the church at about eight o'clock. The ceremonial procession left the Palace at a quarter to nine. The procession was headed by trompeters of the court band and a cavalry squadron in full dress. Aladár SZEGEDY-MASZÁK as Royal Herald rode a horse behind them in herald dress, followed by the Royal Guards, then came members of 8