William Penn Life, 1999 (34. évfolyam, 2-12. szám)
1999-06-01 / 6. szám
Feszty’s Panorama: The Hungarian Conquest One more time, in English.... One of the most frequent requests we receive here at the William Penn Life is for English By Barbara Kerékgyártó The panorama entitled "The Hungarian Conquest" was painted by the Hungarian artist Árpád Feszty (1856-1914). He and his companions were very wellknown during their time. Their works hang in many museums. While abroad, Feszty saw a panorama and decided to create a similar one in Budapest. His idea was to represent the biblical flood with Noah's ark, a surging seas, swirling clouds, broken sinking boats and plenty of animals. At this time, in the early 1890's, Hungary was preparing the celebration of its 1,000th anniversary. Mór Jókai, the famous Hungarian writer and Feszty's father-in-law, urged Feszty to change the subject for his work to a historical one. Considering the approaching millenium, the painter accepted his father-in-law's idea and decided to depict the scene of the Hungarians' arrival in the Carpathian basin in the year 895 A.D. Creating a Masterpiece The artist, along with his fellow painters, went to the Verecke Pass, the site where Prince Árpád and his people crossed the mountains and came into present-day Hungary. The masters made highly detailed sketches of the landscape from every direction. Feszty insisted on painting the natural and historical truth as far as possible. He began to paint the panorama in 1892. Defying a series of difficulties, he and his companions finished the work and opened the panorama to public viewing on Whitsunday 1894. In describing this important event in Hungarian history, Feszty included more than 2,000 horsemen, chieftains and peasants on the canvas. As one walks up the platform to view the panorama, Prince Árpád and the Seven chieftains appear. They are looking down from a slight hill over the battlefield. They bear the look of men who, after many years of restless wandering, have found their new home. Lost and Found During World War II, the painting was damaged. For years, it was stored in a basement room of the Museum of Fine Arts in Budapest. In 1970, a decision was made on the painting's final home. This muchsuffered painting was finally placed in Opusztaszer, the site of the "first parliament" held by the conquering Hungarians. Restoration work did not begin until 1991 when experienced restorers arrived from Poland. The painting regained its splendor in 1995 and again stood as an excellent example of Hungarian Romanticism. For the thousands of people who visit the traditional places of Hungarian cultural heritage each year, the National Memorial Park of Opusztaszer will probably be one of the more pleasant and memorable experiences of their pilgrimage. For it is here where Feszty's panorama is the center of attention. Lasting Impressions The panorama is significant for not only its artistic value but also its size. It measures 120 meters long and 15 meters high, forming a gigantic circle 38 meters in diameter. Here are some examples of what one will enjoy while viewing Feszty's panorama: • On a slight hill, Prince Árpád and the Seven Chieftains view the translations of our Hungarian language articles. Beginning with this issue, we happily respond to your requests. While not a direct word-for-word translation, we believe this feature will provide our English-only readers an appreciation of the subjects discussed in “Magyar Nyelv.” plains of an unknown land. On a broad road in front of them, a peasant is leading an oxen-drawn carriage. • The endless plains and shiny waters of Latorca are seen behind a bonfire. The fierce troops rush down the hills toward the river. In the foreground, a few of the Slavonians keep fighting as the trumpeters behind them sound the end of the battle. There is no force which can stand against the fierce Hungarian horsemen and their unique, Eastern-style fighting. • In front of the conquering Hungarian horsemen, Latorc is standing with his chieftains. The defenders bravely face the invaders. Latorc's daughter embraces her father in desperate grief; she has already foreseen their sad fate. The defeated warriors wear expressions of fear and despair as they bravely await their deaths. The impressive figures of the captives give an indication of the painter's dramatic power of imagination. • Now, one returns to Prince Árpád and his chieftains. One sees for the last time the beautiful Voloc Valley and Verecke Pass in the distance where the Magyars entered the promised land of the Carpathian Basin. |WPL| 14 William Pena lile, June 1999 I
