Horváth János: Kunffy Lajos - A somogytúri Kunffy Emlékmúzeum katalógusa (Kaposvár, 2005)

EXHIBITION GUIDE FOR THE KUNFFY MUSEUM MEMORIAL IN SOMOGYTÚR Somogytúr is situated in the Balaton region, crossed by the motorway between Kaposvár and Balatonlelle, having a good access both in traffic and tourism. One of its buildings is located next to the road. The 18

th century mansion is the oldest house in the village, a typical example of the County Court gentry architecture. The museum consists of the mansion and the studio building. The studio with its neo-classic columned entrance, like a Greek temple for Arts was built in 1909. This two ones are connected with a picturesque, shady, large park. The driveway is topped with two stone vases marking the entrance to the garden of an ancient mansion. The patron saint statues and stone vases to be found in the garden were saved by the artist. Next to the mansion is the Saint Florian statue, the patron saint for the firemen. In the middle of the garden there is Maria with the child, the patron saint for Hungary with a crown oh her head. At the studio two statues of Saint John of Nepomuk can be seen, the patron saint for the village. On the studio wall there is an Italian relief of the Renaissance, made of coloured terracotta: a 20

th century copy of the Madonna by Luca della Robbia, bought by the Kunffys in Italy in 1913. The rooms, the intimate interior of the museum memorial is to present the work of art of the painter, Lajos Kunffy, with his county home atmosphere. The several beautiful pictures are displayed in his authentic milieu. The museum is furnished according its original use, improving the effect. Due to the fortunate situation of the Somogy County Museum, it could establish Museum memorials for all three of the local artists: for Mihály Zichy in Zala village, for József Rippl-Rónai in Kaposvár and for Lajos Kunffy in Somogytúr in their former homes, maintaining their genuine styles. It took decades to exhibit these pictures in their authentic interior reflecting the peculiar social and artistic backgrounds. Accordingly the paintings exhibited here present a deeper, more sophisticated context of cultural history. Lajos Kunffy studied and lived in the capital of arts, Paris for 17 years. He was a freshly married young man in Paris, when he got the 1000-acre estate in Somogytúr. This property provided the artistic independence for him, together with the infinite source of topics to paint. Peasants wearing national costumes and gypsies in colourful clothes lived in this village. Kunffy's painting can mostly be characterised by the pictures of them making him similar to the style of Nagybánya. His work of art is specified with the cycle of pictures of Gypsy topic. In his ageing period he moved all the furniture from his Budapest and Paris homes to Somogytúr, getting rid of city life finally in 1934. He did not sell his most important pieces, but donated them to the state. His known pieces can be found in the Hungarian National Gallery and in home or foreign private collections. His art is well presented in this museum. 72