Veres Gábor szerk.: Agria 46. (Az Egri Múzeum Évkönyve - Annales Musei Agriensis, 2010)

Petercsák Tivadar: Fertálymesteri tablók a Dobó István Vármúzeumban

Tivadar Petercsák "Fertálymester" tableau in the István Dobó Castle Museum The "fertálymester" institution existed in Eger from the beginning of the 18

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h century up to the middle of the 20

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h century. The "fertálymester", the representative of the town quarter was elected for a year from the male inhabitants of each quarter. First they numbered four, later six, in the 19

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h century twelve and from 1938 fourteen. In the beginning they helped with the work of the town clerks to collect taxes, to pass on the decrees of the council and to keep the order in the town quarter. By the 20

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h century the social prestige of the function was elevated and besides fostering tradition, the body of "fertálymester-s" became an important institution of social contact and social care. The "fertálymester-s" appearing in their representative robes and with a rod adorned with ribbons were the permanent participants of ecclesiastical and civil events. The roster of "fertálymester-s" was started to be documented on hand-painted colourful tableaux in 1849. With the spreading of photography from 1869 they were depicted on full-length, later on oval or square half-length portraits, listing their name and quarter from the end of the 1870s. The rosters and photos were made to remind the centuries old tradition of the institution and the rich past of the town of Eger with antique style, ornamented frames and depiction of the coats of arms of Hungary and Eger. One copy of the tableaux was kept in the Town Hall, but the "fertálymester" also received one as well in remembrance. The essay describes in detail and publishes the twenty-six "fertálymester" tableaux preserved in the historical collection of the museum, thus with the representations and data on them it contributes to the exploration of this unique Eger function. 259