Zádor Anna: Neoclassical Pest - Our Budapest (Budapest, 1993)
here and at the National Museum. It is difficult to decide today whether the failure was merely due to financial considerations (Ferenc (Jhrl’s proposal for the altar cross in the chapel and reliefs decorating the walls of the staircase was cheaper than Ferenczy’s) or, at least partly, to Ferenczy’s sympathies with the Carbonari. In any case, it is a great loss that the first sculptor of really outstanding talent in this period hardly received worthy commissions. The construction of the garden at the National Museum and the border surrounding it took decades to complete, while the park of the Ludoviceum, designed in the style of the so-called landscape garden, was finished at about the same time as the building itself. This was because the park was necessary for horse- riding and other military drills conducted at the academy. The building of the Ludoviceum is very indicative of the town’s course of expansion. At the same time it also proves that all the focal points (with almost no exception) which determined the direction and growth in size of a Pest fast turning into a big city in the last third of the century, were created during the neoclassical period. Once again there was further demand for model buildings to meet the needs of an administration strengthening in every field. In this period county halls were built all over the country. The majority of them are in the neoclassical style, which, at that time, was thought to be the most suitable expression of Hungarian consciousness and taste. The Pest County Hall, whose outer appearance, fortunately, is still the same today, is a particularly beautiful example. The originally smaller building, erected by János Hild, on the rather large site cordoned off by three streets- Városház utca, Vármegye utca and Semmelweis utca- soon proved too cramped. The two-storey wing looking onto Semmelweis utca was constructed by József Hofrichter (1779-1835) between 1829 and 1832. This wing was supposed to be for dwelling purposes; with its serene articulation and powerful, soaring giant pillars it demonstrates the excellent abilities and refined taste of the architect. The agreeable proportions and impressive design of the space in the vestibule consisting 28
