Europe’s Best Art Center: Budapest’s Cultural Square

By Nicole Frost to Museum Spotlight Europe (November 2019)

Budapest’s Heroes’ Square is your one-stop shop for a look into the country’s unique background, development, and art culture.

Overview

In the middle of the “Paris of the East” stands a central hub of history, culture, and political influence. Constructed in 1896, Heroes’ Square pays homage to Hungary’s original leaders and the nation’s reverence for strength, valor, and prosperity. The square’s iconic Millennium Monument is sandwiched between the Museum of Fine Arts and the Hall of Art. Surrounding the pillar, you’ll find nine statues on either side – each representing a powerful figure in Hungarian history. An attraction of its own, Heroes’ Square is an ideal starting point for anyone who wants to truly experience the culture of Budapest.

Hall of Art

On the right side of the Millennium monument lies the city’s groundbreaking Hall of Art, or Műcsarnok in Hungarian. This historic building houses original pieces from the world’s most renowned contemporary artists and visionaries.

Based on the German Kunsthalle operational standard, this museum maintains temporary exhibits without actually owning its own collection. This gives the institution the ability to regularly circulate their pieces, giving the visitor a different experience on each visit.

Established in the 19th century, the Hall of Art continues to be a cornerstone of Hungarian and international contemporary art. This institution prides itself on its cutting-edge approach to trends and current events in the world of art and culture.  The building’s streamlined architecture fits right into the aesthetic of Heroes’ Square. Representative of its homestead, this museum is another landmark that has withstood the test of time.

Fun fact: the Hall of Art also holds many conferences and public/private events throughout the year.

The gallerys’ rotating exhibits feature the best of Hungarian fine, contemporary, and architecturalart. Whether you’re seeking a look into the past or a reflection of the present, you could spend hours perusing the halls of this museum.

Museum of Fine Arts

Following a three-year renovation project, the Museum of Fine Arts is now open and welcoming visitors. Across the square opposite the Kunsthalle stands this expansive vault of globally recognized treasures.

This museum contains seven unique collections:

Egyptian Antiquities

In the 19th century, Hungary began building this collection through art dealers, aristocrats, and collectors who passed through the region. Some pieces were acquired by diplomats and wealthy travellers, while others were unearthed directly at the source over the last century.

These items were previously scattered all across Hungary. Once the Museum of Fine Art opened their Egyptian exhibit in 1934, the majority of these pieces were consolidated into one collection. After WWII, the museum’s Egyptian collection continued to grow from the generous donations of patrons, as well as additional archaeological efforts.

Now, The Museum of Fine Arts is only one of four museums in the country with an Egyptian collection.

Classical Antiquities

As a beacon of Hungarian culture and history, the Collection of Classical Antiquities is the only comprehensive collection of ancient art in the entire country.

This collection is an exhibit as well as a research center, with more than 6,000 individual pieces. These artifacts, combined with the minds behind their curation, help us to build a composite of the world that previously existed during their respective lifetimes.

In addition to Hungarian pieces, the Collection of Classical Antiquities also includes Greek, Etruscan, Greco-Roman artifacts. This exhibit is also home to multiple internationally recognized pieces, including Raphael’s Esterházy Madonna. 

Old Master Paintings

Across nearly 3,000 paintings, the Museum of Fine Art features some of the world’s most influential and revolutionary artists. Renowned works from the hands of Giorgione, Jacob Jordaens, Franz Anton Maulbertsch, and John Constable.

Many of these pieces are remnants from powerful Hungarian rulers and leaders, as many were a part of their personal collections. Hungarian art collecting is a custom with deep roots, and this portion of the museum serves as a symbol of that past.

Since WWI, the Old Master Paintings section has acquired the majority of its pieces through donations and private collections.

Sculptures

Károly Pulszky started this collection (even before the Museum of Fine Art was established) by purchasing at least 120 schedules in 1894-1895. This initial investment would later be the foundation of the museum’s sculpture segment.

At one point, the museum focused on acquiring replicas instead of original art pieces. Now, the collection has grown to include many original works from artists such as István Ferenczy and Agostino di Duccio.

Prints and Drawings

The print and drawings exhibit was built largely from the Esterházy Collection, which contained 3,535 drawings and 51,301 prints.

Prior to the 1950s, international and Hungarian prints were maintained in the building that still stands as the Museum of Fine Arts. But, they were moved to the Hungarian National Gallery until the two organizations merged again in 2012. Now, this part of the museum is home to iconic pieces from artists like van Gogh, Picasso, and Delacroix.

Old Hungary

The Old Hungary collection is a diverse mix of sculptures, architectural carvings, paintings, and historical artifacts. All pieces were either made within Hungary’s borders, or on Hungarian commission if created abroad.

A blend of traditional and trendy, this collection stands to display Hungary’s social history, aesthetic style, and long-held relationship with the art world. The Old Hungary collection maintains literal pieces of churches, monasteries, and urban buildings that once stood on Hungarian soil. Among these artifacts are winged altarpieces, which makes up the largest collection in Central Europe.

Historical Library

With more than 250,000 items, the Museum of Fine Art boasts one of the most impressive art libraries on the entire continent.

While it isn’t the shiniest portion of the museum, it’s an immeasurable resource for in-depth and accurate research. Originally serving mainly as a study room for the museum’s staff, it’s now a public library.

The Museum of Fine Arts also has a wide variety of exhibitions, a few of which are kept on a permanent basis. The five staple exhibits are centered around:

• Ancient Egypt
• Classical Antiquity
• European Art 1250-1600
• European Sculpture 1350-1800
• Art in Hungary 1600-1800

Whether you’re in the mood to look into the lens of history or reinterpret the present, Heroes’ Square is an excellent starting point for any art buff. Across Central Europe, you won’t find a more impressive and unique collection of Hungarian and international pieces.