Pál Szinyei Merse (Hungarian, July 4, 1845 – February 2, 1920)

A hinta / The Swing (Vacationers, In the Garden)
1869
Oil on cardboard, 54,2 x 41 cm
Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest

Majális / May Fest

1873
Oil on canvas, 128 x 163,5 cm
Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest

Léghajó / Balloon
1882
Oil on canvas, 42 x 39 cm
Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest

Pacsirta / Lark
1882
Oil on canvas, 163 x 127 cm
Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest

Tél / Winter
1901-1905
Oil on canvas, 90 x 117 cm
Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest

Pál Szinyei Merse (1911)

by József Rippl-Rónai
Oil on cardboard, 70,5 x 96 cm
Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest

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Pál Szinyei Merse began his studies at the Munich Academy in 1864. He settled here upon completion of his studies, and put his work entitled "May Fest", which has by today become one of the emblematic pieces of Hungarian art, up for show also in Munich. Becoming disenchanted he returned to his country estate in 1873, only picking up the brush again in 1895. His solo exhibition of 1896 was a huge success, and he was elected a member of parliament the same year. He took a study tour of Southern Italy in 1901 and became the director of the Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts in 1905, also taking part in organising MIÉNK (Circle of Hungarian Impressionists and Naturalists) in 1907. In the last phase of his career he mainly painted landscapes.