Treasures from Hungarian National Gallery in Royal Academy of Arts London 2010
25th September — 12th December 2010
This exhibition showcases the breadth and wealth of one of the finest collections in Central Europe. The exhibition comprises works from the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest, with additional key loans from the Hungarian National Gallery.
The exhibition features over 200 works and includes paintings, drawings and sculpture from the early Renaissance to the twentieth century. Selected works by artists including Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, El Greco, Rubens, Goya, Manet, Monet, Schiele, Gauguin and Picasso are on display, many of which have not previously been shown in the UK.
The Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest houses the state collection of international art works in Hungary and includes the Esterházy collection, acquired by the Hungarian state in 1871. The collection began in the seventeenth century but expanded during the rule of Prince Nikolaus II Esterházy (1765 – 1833) who was responsible for developing the fine collection of Old Master paintings and drawings which will be showcased in the exhibition. One of the highlights of the exhibition will be Raphael's 'Virgin and Child with St John the Baptist', 1508 (known as The Esterházy Madonna).
The show has been organised chronologically, with thematic sections which consider the richness of the collections in relation to religious works, mythological subjects, portraiture and landscape paintings.
Treasures from Budapest: European Masterpieces from Leonardo to Schiele has been organised by the Royal Academy of Arts, London in collaboration with the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest and with the partnership of the Hungarian National Gallery. The exhibition has been curated by Professor David Ekserdjian, with Joanna Norman from the Royal Academy of Arts.