MEDGYESSY, Ferenc
(1881, Debrecen - 1958, Budapest)



Sculptor. After graduating from the Medical University, he learnt painting and modelling in Paris from 1905 to 1907. At the beginning, he was influenced by Maillol's art of modelling, later by the principles of modern sculpture of Hildebrand but the ancient Greek, Egyptian, Sumerian and Assyrian modelling played an even more important role. He visited Florence in 1908 to study Michelangelo's works and Ethruscan art. His works appeared at exhibitions from 1908 onwards. "Dancers", a relief, brought him first success.

He served as an army surgeon during World War I. He modelled "Scrubbing Woman", a statuette in 1913, and "Small Rider" in 1915. Between the two wars he was commissioned to produce several monumental statues and modelled tombs, too. He was awarded the Grand Prix at the World Exhibition in Paris for his allegorical statues for the Déri Museum, Debrecen. He modelled the equestrian statue of "St. Andrew" in 1943 erected in Győr only after his death.

The statue of Petőfi for Debrecen followed in 1947, and that of Rippl-Rónai in 1952. The statue of Móricz (1956) was another statue erected in Debrecen after his death. "Dancer", a bronze statue (1954) was erected on Izabella tér in Budapest. He finished his Csokonai Memorial in 1953. His works include "Harvest Procession", a large scale relief, "Relief of Gellért Fountain" and "András Jelly Memorial".

Medgyessy, one of the most significant Hungarian sculptors of the 20th c. was particularly influenced by folk realism but he respected laws of modelling. His works were characteristic of an attitude to summarize. His collected writings were published with the title "About My Life and Art" in 1960.



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