Szilágyi András (szerk.): Ars Decorativa 28. (Budapest, 2012)

Balázs SEMSEY: Architecture and Museology at the End of the 19th Century

8. Replica of the Maksa ceiling at the Millennial Exhibition, photo: Antal Weinwurm, 1896 (Metropolitan Ervin Szabó Library, Budapest Collection) probably with Kamill Fittler, who played a leading role in the acquisition of both monuments as an associate of the Museum of Applied Arts and at the same time, in 1896 he was the architectural specialist of the Millennial Exhibition, and later took part in preparing and organizing the Hungarian departments at the Paris World Fair.

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8 Since the thorough art historical elaboration of the objects began after their arrival in the museum, a peculiar situation arose in which the exhibited reconstruction, particularly that of the Sóly gallery, strongly influenced the subsequent reception. Authors dealing with these objects took the authenticity of the reconstruction for granted, failing to reflect upon the transformation, additions and re-painting, which fell into oblivion. At first the main range of research and interpretation focused on the renaissance motifs living on in folk art, more and more detached from the physical reality of the actual art objects.

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9 Later, growing importance was ascribed to the exploration of the analogies and of the other works by the presumed artists, and to the compilation of the products of workshops active in Hungary.

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0 The latter researches based chiefly on style critical observations depend indis15