From Old Sopron to the Parisienne
Art Historian Ferenc Dávid on the Great Period of Monument Protection and How it Works Since Then
MúzeumCafé 47.
In the course of his career Ferenc Dávid left his mark in every corner of the country. The full list could begin with his reconstruction of the historic centre of Sopron, continue with numerous buildings in Castle Hill, the palaces in Gödöllő and Fertőd, synagogues in Apostag, Mád, Sopron and the capital. The two medieval synagogues in Sopron and the two excavated synagogues in Buda were great achievements, and today are recognised as a model of European research. Ferenc Dávid’s work was quite diverse, since much time elapsed between the medieval buildings in Sopron and his involvement with the Ernst Museum. In his own view, restoration of listed buildings involves team work. Regarding his team, the task of the art historian differs with almost every building. The related professional knowledge thus only survives if the possibility remained of their working together from excavation to completion of restoration. Ferenc Dávid graduated in art history, and Hungarian language and literature in 1963. He worked at the National Monuments Inspectorate until 1986, and for 20 years was a specialist art historian involved with the reconstruction of listed buildings in Sopron. From 1986 he was a senior member of the Academy of Sciences’ Art History Research Institute. He participated in the restoration of the Esterházy Palace and the Royal Palace in Gödöllő. From the 1980s he prepared professional reports about the assessment and renovation of synagogues in Hungary. His work was acknowledged with the Lajos Fülep, Arnold Ipolyi and Sándor Scheiber prizes, and for his achievements in Sopron he was awarded the town’s Pro Urbe prize. In 2013 the art history and monument protection profession honoured him with a festschrift (Stone Upon Stone, I-II).