Zádor Anna: Neoclassical Pest - Our Budapest (Budapest, 1993)
hensible and visually appreciable works of art. In search of this, people turned to the age of antiquity, typified by peristylar articulation, serene architectural ornamentation, and buildings finished with cornices or centres surmounted by large pediments and smaller pediments crowning doors and window apertures. At the same time these preferences indicate that people were abandoning picturesque and turbulent sculptural decorations on their houses as well as the dramatic contrasts used to shape wall-faces, which were so characteristic of the previous baroque era. In Hungary-and especially in Budapest-this was a period of widespread economic and cultural upheaval, which naturally led to faster and more prolific architectural activity. Many of the buildings erected at this time can still be seen today, proving the high artistic level of the neoclassical style in Hungary. From 1805, the implementation of the Hild-plan was the responsibility of the Beautification Committee, whose members were so cleverly selected that its composition became a key element in its success. The craftsmen on the committee were guild-masters-brick- layers, carpenters and stonemasons-who did not have disputes with architects. This was possible because the latter-due to their higher level of education-transcended the usual membership of the guilds without disrupting their framework and traditions. Mihály Pollack (1773-1855) pursued some of his studies at the Academy in Vienna and continued them under the guidance of his half-brother, who worked as a state architect in Milan. József Hild (1789-1867) also studied in Vienna and Italy, having completed his standard training in a guild. Ordinary citizens were also represented on the committee by a number of elected representatives, and the town engineer, together with other invited town councillors, was also a member. Not one person was financially remunerated, thus avoiding the harmful effects of financial motivation. This is not to say that there were not heated debates; in fact it took a long time to arrive at many decisions, even in these circumstances. However, the organization generally worked well and with success, which was even more important as the pace of the construction became faster. Apart from the technical works (road maintenance, 8
