Sz. Kürti Katalin: Munkácsy Mihály (1844-1900) nemzetközi tudományos emlékülés előadásai (A Hajdú-Bihar Megyei Múzeumok Közleményei 53. Debrecen, 1994)

Sz. Kürti Katalin: Szerkesztői utószó

The events of the Munkácsy anniversary International conference (Summary) Mihály Lieb, who used the pseudonym Mihály Munkácsy, was born 150 years ago, 20th February, 1844. His native town, Munkács (Munkachevo) now belongs to The Ukraine. After his studies in Vienna, Munich and Düsseldorf he settled in Paris and worked there for more than two decades. His wife, Cécile Papier, the widow of baron de Marches had a castle in Colpach, in Luxembourg. The painter spent most of his summers there. He died on 1st May. 1900 in Endenich near Bonn. The above summary shows how eventful his life was and together with the significance of his art explains why the anniversary was celebrated by events beyond the borders of Hungary. The publication gives a summary of events of the anniversary and the activity of its coordinating body, the Munkácsy Commemorative Committee. The Hungarian committee worked in Debrecen in co-operation with the Ukrainien one in Munkács. The Hungarian celebrations started at Easter, 1993, when Munkácsy's largesized painting, the Golgotha was exhibited int he Hungarian National Museum. The painting was in the United States for a hundred years. Its present owner Julian Beck (Bereczki Csaba Gyula), the owner of a New York gallery deposited it in Hungary. Till the end of the millennium the painting can be seen in the Déri Museum in Debrecen together with its pair, the huge Ecce homo. In Miskolc, one of the scenes of the painter's childhodd, the Commemorative Committee laid wreath on the grave of Munkácsy's parents and held a one-day conference there. An exhibition showed the influence of Munkácsy on Hungarian painting. The celebrations continued in Békéscsaba, where Munkácsy spent most of his childhood. Two exhibitions were opened here; one entitled Munkácsy and the fine arts of Békés county, and the Alföldi Tárlat, giving expression to the esteem of contemporary artists towards Munkácsy. A Munkácsy Memorial House was opened in the country-house, where Munkácsy spent a lot of time during his childhood. Paintings by Munkácsy have been exhibited in Debrecen for six decades. Now we can see here the two paintings on Christ mentioned above together with a third, a half sized reduction of Christ before Pilate, the deposit of the Hungarian Naitonal Gallery. An exhibition entitled The life and cult of Munkácsy was organized by the Munkácsy Hall together with a conference. Professor Lajos Végvári, the author of several monographs spoke about the painter's European significance. Gheorge Vida (Bucharest), the art director of the Cultural Ministry set forth the young Mun-