The exhibition dedicated to Sigismund of Luxemburg (1387–1437) and his time is a joint project of the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest and the Musée National d'Histoire et d'Art, Luxembourg and is supported by the Luxembourgian and Hungarian heads of state. The exhibition to be held in 2006 is on display first in Budapest, and then the same material will travel to Luxembourg. The project is organised by a team of art historians at the Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest with the scholarly support of an international board of advisors. The exhibition, displaying nearly 400 works on loan from some 100 collections from 19 different counties of the world, places in its focus the personality and achievements of Sigismund of Luxembourg (1387–1437), the Hungarian and later Holy Roman king and emperor.
Among the works exhibited are several works-of-art that will leave the places where they are preserved for the very first time. The works-of-art have been selected for the exhibition from the world’s major collections, which among others include those of the British Museum of London, the Louvre of Paris, the National Gallery of Washington, the Biblioteca Apostolica of the Vatican, the Kunsthistorisches Museum of Vienna, and the Hermitage of Saint Petersburg. This unparalleled exhibition was realised under the auspices of Luxembourg and Hungary’s respective heads of state and the sponsorship of the governments of the two countries. The exhibition material will be displayed first in Budapest and then in Luxembourg.
In this major exhibition the museum has undertaken the task of portraying the personality, period and artistic environment of Sigismund of Luxembourg, Hungarian (1387) and Holy Roman king (1410/11) and emperor (1433), focusing on the colourful personality of the ruler, his political career and patronage. In addition, the exhibition attempts to give a detailed overview of the cultural and artistic phenomena and works-of-art that characterise Sigismund’s era or can be linked with it, highlighting those phenomena that might place the ruler’s mentality in a different light.
Sigismund’s reign was a period of rapid historical and spiritual changes. The exhibition aims to draw a subtle portrait of Sigismund of Luxembourg – to whom the most credit can be attributed for bringing about the great changes of the period – reflecting the praise bestowed on him by his contemporaries and direct successors. In fact, besides the toposes related to this gallant knight king who loved life and splendour, Sigismund’s other features came to the fore: he was a man of duties, a serious warrior on the battlefield, a fully committed diplomat, a man finding intellectual challenge in politics, devoting his thoughts to reform in the countries he ruled, and furthermore one who “respected erudition in others”, as well as a founder of universities, and a legislator.
For the first time the portraits of Sigismund of Luxembourg can be seen together with works-of-art from Central European residences of the period’s most important rulers, the statues of the Buda Castle, as well as artefacts of the royal order named after the legendary dragon slain by Saint George. The picture the visitor forms about Sigismund of Luxembourg and his environment will be complemented by works-of-art from the courts of contemporaneous rulers and major centres of art.
In determining the chronological and geographical approach to the theme it was important to bear in mind that from the beginning of his life until its end Sigismund regarded himself as a king reigning primarily over the countries of the Sacred Crown (Hungary, Croatia, Dalmatia), and thus this region has also been accorded major emphasis at the exhibition, similarly to the art objects that survived in Sigismund’s court and its environs, including pieces of the Buda statue find, the winged altar by Tamás Kolozsvári in Garamszentbenedek, and the reliquary bust containing the relic of Saint Ladislas from Várad, restored specifically for this exhibition. The Hungarian and Central European art of the period is represented at the exhibition by panel pictures, statues, codices and metalsmith objects. The public will have the opportunity to see works-of-art displayed which in themselves can be regarded as sensational. One such example is the ceremonial sword from the city of York, which was originally presented to Henry V of England by Sigismund. This is the first time the sword has left England since its donation.
Budapest, Szépművészeti Múzeum (Museum of Fine Arts)
Heroes’ Square
18 March – 18 June 2006
www.szepmuveszeti.hu
Luxembourg, Musée national d'histoire et d'art
13 July – 15 October 2006
Opening times : From Tuesday to Sunday 10–18h, Thursday 10–20h. Closed on Mondays.
Entrance fee : adults 6 €; reduced fee: 3 €; family ticket: 10 €
Information: Tel: 00352-47 93 30-208, Fax: 00352-47 93 30-271
musee@mnha.etat.lu
www.mnha.lu
