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The art of Ferenc Medgyessy developed in an unusual way. The young man gave up medicine in order to be a painter, but the splendid Egyptian and Greek collection in the Louvre turned his interest towards sculpture. From the very beginning, this forceful first impression determined his art. He separated himself from the fashionable trends of his time - decorative and pompous Neo-Baroque, overdetailed naturalism, the stylization of "art nouveau" and Rodin's fluid forms - but he did not adhere strictly to Egyptian art either. He simply accepted its hold, concise and monumental approach.
Medgyessy's first work appeared in Hungary at the beginning of the 1910s. The "Small Equestrian Statue", peresented to the Hungarian National Gallery by Lajos Hatvany, was sculptured in the middle of decade. The unity of horse and rider, both in form and content, the monumental effect of the composition and dynamic movement make this real masterpiece. The handling also contributes to the noble effect of strength, calm and elementary force. Ferenc Medgyessy instinctively and consciously considered the character of the materials he used. The bronze equestrian statue lends itself to possibilities of cast metal and exploits all its beauties. The gleming smooth surfaces highlight the rich, gentle forms.
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