Matthias Corvinus, Florence and Parallel Histories
Two exhibitions of the Budapest History Museum staged abroad
MúzeumCafé 38.
In the autumn the Budapest History Museum took part in the staging of two significant exhibitions abroad. As part of Italy’s Hungarian Cultural Season, Mattia Corvino e Firenze (Matthias Corvinus and Florence) opened in the San Marco Museum, Florence. During the 2008 Year of the Renaissance the Budapest History Museum organised a major exhibition about Matthias Hunyadi the King. Tradition and Renewal at the Royal Court, 1458-1490. Then an invitation came from the chief inspector of the Florentine museums directorate for the San Marco Museum and the Budapest History museum to jointly create a show reflecting the connections between Matthias and Florence. Works from 35 collections in 10 countries were assembled. Items from seven public collections in Hungary were loaned for the exhibition. The other exhibition, Parallel Histories – the Architecture of Budapest and Kassa in the Second Half of the 19th Century, is being staged in Košice, Slovakia, on the occasion of the city being a European Capital of Culture. The display covers the urban development and architecture of Budapest and Kassa in the late 19th century and includes architectural plans, maps, paintings of different urban districts, drawings and numerous contemporary photographs of buildings. The introduction addresses the issues of modernisation and urbanisation during the Dual Monarchy, while a section deals with the renovation of Kassa Cathedral as well as the Matthias Church in Buda. Budapest and Kassa are presented in parallel in terms of their buildings of culture, entertainment, public administration and justice.