Tanulmányok Budapest Múltjából 27. (1998)

PICTURES OF THE LAST CORONATION IN HUNGARY - Katalin Földi Dózsa: HISTORY OF THE EXHIBITED PICTURES

apostolic double crosses and with golden flowers-de-luce on the side of the Queen who had been Princess of Parma. The thrones of the crowned Majesties were located on the gospelside of the chancel. The golden throne upholstery with King Matthias' coat-of-arms, weaved in Florence in about 1470 was located behind the throne, fitting of which properly ment a lot of difficulty for Lechner. Lighting of the church, designed by Lechner for this special occasion, was likewise splendid and imposing. The technical solution of the floating rings of light might not be an easy task at all. Five iron rings with 48 bulbs (32 candlelight each)

14 were fixed in the nave of the church. The side-alisles were provided with ten rings of diameter 3 m and with 32 bulbs. Two lamps (2000 candlelight each) were installed above the high altar however these exploided during testing, as a result of the generating heat of 60° C. For this reason plate mirrors were built-in to reduce the temperature to 20° C. Some other problems arised too. The scenes outside the church had to be selected. According to the ceremony the King's taking the oath follows the coronation. Bánffy deemed the Halászbástya as the most appropriate for this purpose, but his idea was rejected, taking security into consideration. In case of an eventual attempt it would have been difficult to protect it. Consequently, the scene of the oath was finally the votive pillar raised in the 18. century, at Szentháromság tér. It needed some renewal, and Móric Pogány had to design a stage to it. Pogány provided the memorial column with a terracelike platform with balustrades, curved ramps and decorated pedestal. The third one of the outstanding scenes of the coronation ceremony was the Szent György tér, where the Coronation Hill was built up from earth gathered from every region of the country. According to the ceremony the King had to ride up the hill and to take sword-strokes toward the four cardinal points, indicating that he would defend the frontiers of the country. No serious problems arose here, Kos followed the Baroque architectonic forms of the Palace. There were all the more problems with the decoration of the processional route. Several circumstances made difficulties. Location of the stands for the public on the one hand and the picturesque but in a certain sense somewhat unfavourable general view of the surrounding on the other hand. Especially the newly built houses had a disturbing effect. So the houses got not only the decoration with flags, painted panels or wreath of leaves, the artists tried to unify the route by applying obelisks and pylons painted in white colour and sculptures. The greatest trouble was caused by bad weather. Originally the pylons would have been linked with garlands of pine but being afraid of the wind the idea was omitted. Afraid of rain and wind, the painted flags and the large-size national colours were set up in the last minute only. Race against time Only a few hours were available for design, and three weeks for implementation. The team worked as fanatics, during the last three days almost day and night. Jenő Lechner was kept being asked by visitors of high rank how would it be possible to complete such a big job by the date fixed, and he answered: "It must be done". 7