Miklós Barabás

Miklós Barabás (10 February 1810, Márkosfalva, Háromszék County, Hungary – 12 February 1898, Budapest, Hungary) was a Hungarian painter celebrated for his remarkable portrait paintings, notably capturing the essence of prominent figures such as the young Franz Liszt in 1847 and Emperor Franz Joseph I in 1853.

Barabás received his education at the Protestant school of Nagyenyed (present-day Aiud, Romania). Showing artistic talent from an early age, he ventured to Vienna in 1829, where he briefly studied under Johann Ender. Returning to Kolozsvár (now Cluj-Napoca, Romania) in 1830, he honed his skills in lithography under the tutelage of Gábor Barra (1799-1837). By 1831, he had relocated to Bucharest, Romania. His artistic journey led him to Italy in 1834-1835, where he studied watercolor painting under the guidance of William Leighton Leitch, a Scottish artist who greatly influenced his future work. Barabás settled in Pest in 1855.

Barabás garnered immense support from literary and political figures of the Reform Age, emerging as a pioneering figure in Hungarian national art. He played a pivotal role in shaping the art scene in Hungary and is credited with laying the foundation of Hungarian genre painting. His masterpiece, “Romanian Family Going To The Fair” (1844), was hailed as the epitome of folk genre painting and received acclaim at the 1844 Vienna Art Association exhibition before captivating audiences in Pest.

Throughout his life in Pest, Barabás faced financial challenges during times of absolutism, leading him to diversify his artistic pursuits by venturing into photography and altar painting. His perseverance culminated in the establishment of the Art Society in 1859, of which he served as President from 1862 until his passing.

Barabás’s oeuvre comprises an extensive array of formal portraits capturing the elite of Hungary, Austria, and Romania. His subjects ranged from political figures, musicians, and literary icons to religious leaders, military personnel, and members of high society. Additionally, he depicted scenes of rural life and crafted poignant peasant family portraits. Renowned for his realistic style, Barabás’s works resonated with mid-19th-century Europe, predating the advent of photography and the Impressionist movement. Even in his later years, he continued to immortalize significant figures such as the revered Hungarian poet János Arany in 1884.

Barabás’s legacy extended beyond his artistic endeavors, as he served as a member of the Hungarian Parliament representing Pest from 1867 until his demise in Budapest.