Rome-Budapest, 1800–1948
Artistic Relations Between the Two Cities
Through a series of thematic exhibitions, the Virág Judit Gallery explores the network of artistic connections and interactions between these three culturally significant European capitals and Budapest.
The development and diversity of modern Hungarian art were closely tied to the short or extended travels of Hungarian painters and sculptors to Berlin, Paris, and Rome. Italy's picturesque landscapes have always captivated European artists and writers. For centuries, study trips to Italy—especially to Rome—were an essential part of academic training in all the major art centers of Europe. Hundreds of painters, writers, and thinkers devoted varying amounts of time to studying ancient, Renaissance, and later Baroque monuments.
In addition to its inexhaustible wealth of artistic treasures, Rome was also the most important religious center of its time. Thus, at the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, the "Eternal City" was the foremost destination for such journeys. Between the two World Wars, numerous Hungarian artists, sculptors, and architects were awarded state scholarships to the Hungarian Academy in Rome.