János Fadrusz
Encyclopedia
János Fadrusz was a Hungarian sculptor. He was a celebrated artist of the age with many important public commission.
(German: Pressburg), Hungary
, Fadrusz came from a peasant
family and went to school in Pressburg where he did four years of primary school and two years of secondary
school before an apprenticeship as a locksmith. On completing the apprenticeship he won a gold medal for a portal design and his carved works where instantly met with recognition. He enrolled at the school of wood-carving in Uhrovec
.
between 1879 and 1883 he met Josef Václav Myslbek
, a famous Czech
sculptor and his influence played a role in his change of direction into china
painting and sculpture. "Ahusversus' Head", a plaster cast, was met with praise and brought him patrons. As the winner of a scholarship, he worked under Viktor Tilgner, a neo-baroque sculptor, in Vienna
from 1886 onwards, then became the pupil of Edmund Hellmer at the Vienna Academy. Fadrusz also fashioned a list of portraits (Cézar Scomparini in 1886, Károly Naszidler in 1889, and Mrs. Tivadar Ortvay in 1888).
His "Crucifix
", which he sculpted in Vienna
in 1892, made him famous throughout Hungary
.
Late in 1892, Fadrusz received a commission to produce the equestrian statue of "Maria Theresa
" in Pressburg, which he worked on between 1892 and 1896, but which was later completely destroyed in 1921 by slovak nationalists. In 1894 he was awarded the first prize for his plan of "King Matthias
", another equestrian statue, which was unveiled in Kolozsvár (Cluj-Napoca
) in 1902. He completed two allegorical
statue
s for the Hungarian Palace of Justice in 1893 which are now in the possession of the Hungarian Ethnographic Museum).
His major works in the twentieth century modelled shortly before his death include the Equestrian Statue of Béla Wenckheim
(Kisbér
, 1901), Statue of Wesselényi (Zilah
, 1901), Tuhutum Memorial (Zilah, 1902), and Statue of Lajos Tisza (Szeged
, 1903).
Fadrusz also modelled two "Atlas Figures" in 1897 and two lion
s for the grand gates of Buda Castle
between 1901 and 1902.
Fadrusz died in 1903.
Early life
Born in PozsonyBratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
(German: Pressburg), Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
, Fadrusz came from a peasant
Peasant
A peasant is an agricultural worker who generally tend to be poor and homeless-Etymology:The word is derived from 15th century French païsant meaning one from the pays, or countryside, ultimately from the Latin pagus, or outlying administrative district.- Position in society :Peasants typically...
family and went to school in Pressburg where he did four years of primary school and two years of secondary
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
school before an apprenticeship as a locksmith. On completing the apprenticeship he won a gold medal for a portal design and his carved works where instantly met with recognition. He enrolled at the school of wood-carving in Uhrovec
Uhrovec
Uhrovec is a village and municipality in the Bánovce nad Bebravou District of the Trenčín Region of Slovakia.-Geography:The village lies at an altitude of 258 metres and covers an area of 22.95km². It has a population of 1478 people...
.
Sculptural work
During military service in PraguePrague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
between 1879 and 1883 he met Josef Václav Myslbek
Josef Václav Myslbek
Josef Václav Myslbek was a Czech sculptor credited for founding of the modern Czech sculpting style.Josef grew up poor in a suburb of Prague. His family pushed him to become a shoemaker but he shirked the duty by getting a job with a succession of Czech sculptors...
, a famous Czech
Czech people
Czechs, or Czech people are a western Slavic people of Central Europe, living predominantly in the Czech Republic. Small populations of Czechs also live in Slovakia, Austria, the United States, the United Kingdom, Chile, Argentina, Canada, Germany, Russia and other countries...
sculptor and his influence played a role in his change of direction into china
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
painting and sculpture. "Ahusversus' Head", a plaster cast, was met with praise and brought him patrons. As the winner of a scholarship, he worked under Viktor Tilgner, a neo-baroque sculptor, in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
from 1886 onwards, then became the pupil of Edmund Hellmer at the Vienna Academy. Fadrusz also fashioned a list of portraits (Cézar Scomparini in 1886, Károly Naszidler in 1889, and Mrs. Tivadar Ortvay in 1888).
His "Crucifix
Crucifix
A crucifix is an independent image of Jesus on the cross with a representation of Jesus' body, referred to in English as the corpus , as distinct from a cross with no body....
", which he sculpted in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
in 1892, made him famous throughout Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
.
Late in 1892, Fadrusz received a commission to produce the equestrian statue of "Maria Theresa
Maria Theresa of Austria
Maria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands and Parma...
" in Pressburg, which he worked on between 1892 and 1896, but which was later completely destroyed in 1921 by slovak nationalists. In 1894 he was awarded the first prize for his plan of "King Matthias
Matthias Corvinus of Hungary
Matthias Corvinus , also called the Just in folk tales, was King of Hungary and Croatia from 1458, at the age of 14 until his death...
", another equestrian statue, which was unveiled in Kolozsvár (Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca
Cluj-Napoca , commonly known as Cluj, is the fourth most populous city in Romania and the seat of Cluj County in the northwestern part of the country. Geographically, it is roughly equidistant from Bucharest , Budapest and Belgrade...
) in 1902. He completed two allegorical
Allegory
Allegory is a demonstrative form of representation explaining meaning other than the words that are spoken. Allegory communicates its message by means of symbolic figures, actions or symbolic representation...
statue
Statue
A statue is a sculpture in the round representing a person or persons, an animal, an idea or an event, normally full-length, as opposed to a bust, and at least close to life-size, or larger...
s for the Hungarian Palace of Justice in 1893 which are now in the possession of the Hungarian Ethnographic Museum).
His major works in the twentieth century modelled shortly before his death include the Equestrian Statue of Béla Wenckheim
Béla Wenckheim
Baron Béla Wenckheim was a Hungarian politician who served as prime minister for several months in 1875.- References :...
(Kisbér
Kisbér
Kisbér is a town in Hungary, in Komárom-Esztergom county. The town was first mentioned in 1277.-Royal Stud:Kisber was home to the Imperial-Royal Stud where a Thoroughbred racehorse named for the town was bred under the supervision of Stud's manager, Count Zoest. Foaled in 1873, Kisber raced in...
, 1901), Statue of Wesselényi (Zilah
Zalau
Zalău is the seat of Sălaj County, Transylvania, Romania. In 2004, its estimated population was 62,900.- Ancient times :Zalău is situated in the area inhabited by "Free Dacians", 8 kilometers away from the historical landmark of Porolissum, a well-preserved Roman Castrum with an imposing fortress,...
, 1901), Tuhutum Memorial (Zilah, 1902), and Statue of Lajos Tisza (Szeged
Szeged
' is the third largest city of Hungary, the largest city and regional centre of the Southern Great Plain and the county town of Csongrád county. The University of Szeged is one of the most distinguished universities in Hungary....
, 1903).
Fadrusz also modelled two "Atlas Figures" in 1897 and two lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
s for the grand gates of Buda Castle
Buda Castle
Buda Castle is the historical castle and palace complex of the Hungarian kings in Budapest, first completed in 1265. In the past, it was also called Royal Palace and Royal Castle ....
between 1901 and 1902.
Fadrusz died in 1903.