Imre Jakabffy (szerk.): Ars Decorativa 4. (Budapest, 1976)
IVÁNFY-BAL0GH, Sára - JAKABFFY, Imre: Géza R. Maróti
2. CLAY MODEL FOR THE HUNGARIAN WAR OF INDEPENDENCE MEMORIAL (1905) Hungary — in comparison with the other participants — granted such a sum for the exhibition which insured a high position at the international rivalry. The home and foreign press accorded due praise to the Hungarian exhibition, although no pecuniary influence has been practised upon : „... few people have such sense of monumentality as Maróti. His soberly applied ornaments are imposing, there is refined smartness in his means. That architecture is one of the winners on the exhibition" — an Italian report said 6 . The Duck Fountain in the big hall, created with artistic simplicity being at present under protection of the Ancient Monuments Act, met with a most favourable reception and became soon popular. Maróti had moulded the fountain and kilned it in clay to Zsolnay's at Pécs. In result of its metallescent glazing the liverly movement rhythm of the ducks was intensified to watery brightness (Fig. 3). The columnist of The Studio gave the room the name of „Duck Salon" and wrote: „Here sobriety and distinction are happily blended in a graceful harmony which does the highest honour to its decorator, Géza Maróti. . . " 7 . This exhibition demonstrated that Maróti always putting in fine materials, the installation made the effect of being an edifice to serve for permanent use and not for ephemeral existence. The Hungarian applied arts section became the prey of flames just on the summit of its success, on the 3rd August 1906, the third month of the exhibition. Receving news about, Maróti and others travelled at once to Milan and came to an agreement with the Italian exhibition committee to adjurn the international jury for the 4th October in order to have delay for reconstruction of the Hungarian exhibiton. The Hungarian government forwarded this plan. As for Maróti, he accomplished the reconstruction doing brillantly within specified time. Revified as a phoenix, the exhibition produced good results as morally as financially for Hungary, at the same time Maróti had his share, too. Among the large number of grand prizes, rewards and badges of honour, as the most appreciable recognition Maróti became honorary member of the academies of fine arts at Milan and Faenza. Mention must be made of the National Exhibition at Pécs 1908, the 130
