Gyárfás (1857–1925)
On Hungarian Culture Day, the Székely National Museum will open an exhibition in its temporary exhibition halls in honor of the 100th anniversary of the death of Jenő Gyárfás (1857–1925).
As one of the most renowned visual artists of Szeklerland, the works of Jenő Gyárfás held in the museum’s fine arts collection have previously been partially presented to the audience in Sfântu Gheorghe/Sepsiszentgyörgy and the surrounding region during past exhibitions. As a new feature of this exhibition, works recently acquired or donated in the past few years will also be publicly displayed for the first time.
The distinguished artist from Sfântu Gheorghe, who returned to his hometown after studying in Budapest and Munich, is often referred to as the “Munkácsy of the Szeklers”. His painting, drawing skills, and the dramatic power and lyrical sensitivity expressed on his canvases place him among the finest masters.
His portraits, genre scenes, and monumental canvases inspired by biblical, literary, and historical themes testify to his exceptional artistic talent and education. At the same time, they introduce the visitor to a body of work shaped by challenges, hardships, and the difficulties that come with being overlooked.
As one of the most promising artists of his time, Jenő Gyárfás took a step that removed him from the heart of the capital’s artistic life. However, upon returning to Sfântu Gheorghe, he created enduring works in his homeland. His art, his efforts in organizing and promoting the arts, his steadfast dedication, and the body of work that flourished in his native land serve as an exemplary model for contemporary generations.
Jenő Gyárfás (1857–1925), visual artist and writer, was born on 6 April 1857 in Sfântu Gheorghe/Sepsiszentgyörgy.
He completed his secondary education in his hometown, at the Székely Mikó College, and then enrolled at the Budapest Drawing School, where he obtained a teaching diploma in drawing as a student of Bertalan Székely (1835–1910).
From 1877 to 1880, he was a student at the Munich Academy of Fine Arts. During this time, his teachers included Sándor Wagner (1838–1919), Wilhelm von Diez (1839–1907), and Gabriel Max (1840–1915). During his years at the academy, some of his first significant works included The First Tooth (1880), which gained international success after being exhibited in Munich and Brussels. The portrait of Bertalan Karlovszky, painted in the same year, is considered a masterpiece of Hungarian portrait painting. He participated in several competitions in Budapest, and due to his partial lack of success, he moved back to Sfântu Gheorghe, where he set up a studio in a building constructed in 1880 specifically for this purpose.
His most famous composition is Tetemre hívás (Call to the Corpse, 1881), based on the ballad of the same name by János Arany (1817–1882). Several versions of this work, along with its only completed example, are housed in the Hungarian National Gallery, while two important preliminary studies are held in the Székely National Museum.
He traveled to Italy for a study trip in 1882 and to England in 1905.
He painted several historical, historicist compositions (Mátyás Király Expels the Bishop of Otranto, King Ladislaus V’s Oath, The Death of Gábor Áron) and numerous excellent portraits (Bertalan Karlovszky, Lajos Kossuth, József Hatolykai Pótsa, Bálint Császár, Ida Fogolyán, Emília Zathureczky Cserey, Self-Portrait). His genre scenes are characterized by the realism of Hungarian and Székely folk life (The Joys of Winter, At the Piano, After the Rain).
Jenő Gyárfás also created book illustrations and cover designs. Under the influence of János Arany’s poetry, he wrote odes, romances, ballads, and even a fairy tale (Magic Veil, 1907), as well as a drama.
He passed away on 3 December 1925 in his hometown. He is buried in the family crypt at the Reformed Castle Church cemetery in Sfântu Gheorghe.
On the centenary of his birth in 1957, a memorial plaque was placed on the wall of the artist’s former studio. In 1971, a commemorative exhibition of his works was held at this location, though it was dismantled in the 1980s. In 2005, on the 80th anniversary of his death, a memorial exhibition was opened at the Székely National Museum in Sfântu Gheorghe, in the gallery named after him.
The majority of his works are housed in our museum’s fine arts collection. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his death, we are showcasing the finest works of the “Hermit of Sfântu Gheorghe” in a new light in the renovated museum building.