Dazzling Lotz frescos adorn the walls of Budapest’s historic University of Fine Arts

Károly Lotz may have a similar role in the Habsburg era as Miksa Róth when Art Nouveau was introduced later. No matter how many historic palaces or public buildings you enter dating back to that time, you are sure to find Lotz frescos in them.


He was one of the best-known and most popular Hungarian painters of the 19th century, so it is no coincidence that his works can be seen on the walls of the Opera House, St Stephen's Basilica and the National Museum. 

Equally, the interiors of the Hungarian University of Fine Arts are decorated with them. Here, between Izabella and Vörösmarty utca, was the location of the original Műcsarnok in 1877, before it moved to its own stately home on Heroes’ Square in 1896.

In Hungary, studying art at a higher level remained problematic for some time. Typically, artists studied at academies in Vienna, Munich or Paris, but the fine arts were so peripheral that they did not even have a base where they could organise exhibitions.


Initially, they rented rooms at a piano dealer's before they used the palace of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences to present their finished works.

Everyone knew that the situation was unsustainable, but the Fine Arts Society, founded in 1861, had to wait another 15 years before they were considered worthy enough to have their own building.


They lobbied until they were granted a place on Andrássy út at a relatively low price, the location larger than any they could have built with the money raised. Part of the plot was therefore sold to the ministry, who in turn built the Neo-Renaissance palace on the corner of Izabella utca.

In the meantime, a tender was announced for the building of the original Műcsarnok, won by a young architect of Czech origin, Adolf Láng, in what was his first major undertaking. Entering the building at Andrássy út 69, you are immediately greeted by a huge hall, where various types of vaulting playfully combine, complementing the stained-glass windows made by Zsigmond Róth – father of the famous Miksa – and ceiling frescos by Károly Lotz.


This gilded foyer, full of stucco and marble, as well as the building as a whole, is modelled after the Palazzo Bevilacqua in Verona. Since the Italian Renaissance marked the heyday of the arts, clearly the architect was aiming to revert to this style when designing this new citadel of culture.

The Műcsarnok was the first home of Hungarian art, so it is no coincidence that the interior decoration is of a high standard, as the finest Hungarian masters worked on it. You enter the stairwell through the wrought-iron gates fashioned by Gyula Jungfer – this could be Budapest, it could be Italy.


The dome, the small cherubs and painted patterns, the multitude of arches and, of course, the wonderful Lotz frescos, all take your breath away. Here, allegories of different branches of art, seven in total, appear with the attributes associated with them. So that everyone can recognise them, Lotz also wrote their names underneath. The execution of the murals was preceded by long preparatory work, the artist working out the final composition using sketches and drawings.

Here you find a copper engraving, at the time the main technique of artistic reproduction, alongside allegories of drawing, painting, sculpture, art history and the art industry itself. Originally, an allegory of architecture was also depicted but, according to Emese Révész, curator of the Incarnations of Space exhibition currently being staged, its condition had deteriorated so much that it had to be taken down. Restoration is still ongoing.


And why is art industry among the frescos? The organisation was aware, even during the construction, that they would not be able to afford the upkeep of the building, so they figured that the lower two levels would be leased to the Museum of Applied Arts, also homeless at the time.

The Lotz murals continue up the stairs. In the octagonal squares of the ceremonial corridor, on a red background illustrating Pompeii, paintings depict four concepts essential to creativity. The first is harmony, since in the age of academia it was essential that the small details harmonise with each other. This is followed by beauty and reality – their special combination is required to create the work. In the last fresco, two soaring eagles represent imagination.

In addition to the mural ensemble, huge marble plaques proclaim the names of those who supported the Műcsarnok's construction. These include illustrious dynasties such as Esterházy and Festetics, the Archduke Rudolf, Count István Károlyi and the Hungarian National Bank.

This being the 150th anniversary of the Hungarian University of Fine Arts, events span the academic year. The main pillars of the institution will be represented, such as for the Incarnations of Space exhibition just opened in the Barcsay Hall. Subtitled The Story of the Former Műcsarnok, its focus is on the freshly restored Lotz frescos.


And if you are curious about the beautiful frescos themselves, feel free to wander into the training centre next door at Andrássy út 71.