Tanulmányok Budapest Múltjából 27. (1998)

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

Katalin Földi Dózsa: HISTORY OF THE EXHIBITED PICTURES Arrangements for the coronation The aged Emperor and King, who had been ruling in Austro-Hungary for the longest time among all of the Hapsburgs and whose personality had yet been able to hold the dismembering Empire together, deceased on November 21st, 1916. Francis Joseph was buried by Vienna with honour and dignity, but Austria was waiting with Charles' coronation.

1 All the more enthusiastic was Budapest in preparation for demonstrating for the whole world: Hungary has a new king. With its traditional ceremony, the Holy Crown and the regalia, the coronation represented at the same time that the nation and the Sovereign were mutually accepting each other. The Organizing Committee of the Coronation Ceremony was designated

2 at the Prime Minister's request by the Minister of Interior, Minister of Justice and Minister of Religion and assembled at December 1st"—wrote Róbert K. KERTÉSZ in his review about the artistic and technical activities of the coronation. From the governmental departments through both houses of the Parliament, down to the newspapers of Budapest almost everybody were represented in the Committee. The Committee organized four Subcommittees, including one for artistic and technical activities, the chairman of which was count Miklós BÁNFFY, Member of Parliament. Illustrious members of the Subcommittee were among others painters Pál SZINNYEI MERSE and Gyula BENCZÚR, sculptor György ZALA, director of the Museum of Fine Arts Elek PETROVITS, director of the National Archives Dezső CSÁNKI, director of the Museum of Applied Arts Jenő RADISICH, architects Virgil NAGY and Béla LAJTA and, last but not least, architect Frigyes SCHULEK

3 who carried out the restauration and rebuilding of the Matthias Church where the coronation was held. In spite of their reputation and being highly respected, the members of the Committee had no influence, which is proven by Frigyes SCHULEK doing his best to prevent the decoration works, however in vain. Namely the decoration works were directed exclusively by chairman count Miklós BÁNFFY. It is evident, among others, from KERTÉSZ's laconic record: "On December 4th the Chairman of the Subcommittee charged dr. Jenő LECHNER Dipl. Arch, lecturer of the Technical University with preparing the decoration of the Coronation Church, Móric POGÁNY Arch, with making the stage for oath, Károly KOS Dipl. Arch, with the design of the coronation hill and decoration of its surrounding, finally, Dénes GYÖRGYI Dipl. Arch, professor of the Academy of Applied Arts with decoration of the processional routes and of the stands"

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