The evening times., 1899-03-24
MunKAczY's LAST HOURS.
Famous Hungarian Painters Life
East Ehhfnx Array.

Famous Hungarian Painters Life
Fast Ebbing Away.
Berlin. March 24.-Michael Munkaczy,
the famous Hungarian painter, confined at
the Hospital for the Insane. at Bonn,
whose death was reported last night Is
still alive. but his condition is regarded as
extremely precarious and the end is ex-
pected at any moment.
Michael Munkaezy has been virtually
dead to the world since a paralytic shock
at Godseburg In the latter part OF 1896,
compelled him to abandon work at his
easel For months he sat brOOding and
melancholy, until, in an excess of madness
he suddenly attacked and nearly strangfed
his attendant and his physician. He was
Immediately taken to an insane asylum,
from which he was removed to the retreat
where he now fingers.
His early career forms striking exam
pie of devotion to art and individuality OF
genius He was born in the town of Mum
kakz, near Gyula, in Hungary. on October
10. 1916. Though of genuine Magyar ances-
try, his father bore the German surname
of Lieb, which his son afterward eXchang
ed for the more national one which he
made famous. Mr.. Lieb took an active
part in the revolution of 1S4S, the result
confinement, leaving five orphan children.
Michael was adopted by his aunt, but
thieves broke into her house one night,
plundered it from top to bottom and wound
up by numbering the owner.
Michael next found an asylum with his
uncle, Stephen Roeck, a lawyer at Gyula.
He had been reduced to such poverty by
the revolution that he could give the lad
no education, and apprenticed him to a
fel tnr 0Ir1 s.txf II
came journeyman and found employment
in Arad.
This life of hard work In three years
eliminated in serious Illness. Mr.. Rocks
fortunes were sufficiently improved to en-
able him to take the boy to his home,
where he made the acquaintance of the
painter, SamOsy. Samosy took the young
student to Arad and gave him all the help
he could. Michael then began to earn a
! little by teaching and painting portraits.
At last he attempted compositions of his
own, drawn from the home life of Hunga-
! rian peasants. When he returned to Gyula,
| his cottage scenes, especially the one enti-
tied IAN Invitation TO the Wedding" were
so much admired that he offered this one
! to the Art Union at Pesth, which purchas-
! ed it for about $40. For another picture he
| received S65 soon afterward and with that
capital started for Vienna to study art.
He remained for some months in the Aus
| trian capital but in 1866 an. affection OF
| the eyes. which threatened to deprive him
wholly of sight. drove him back to Pesth
and hospital. His sight was saved and
| he went to Munich with $40. Here he
| made many friends amoIIg artists.
| He did not become known, however. until
| 1870, when he sent THE Condemned 10
| the exhibition. 1t created a great sensa-
| tion In Dusseldorf. and when II was sent
| to the Paris Salon, in 1871, received the
| gold medal and was SO heartily appreciat-
! ed by the public that Munkaczy moved to
| Paris in 1872.
| He continued to portray scenes from the
| life of the lowest classes in Hungary. He
| was welcomed into Partisan society and
| soon became hon. but the real happiness
| of his life did not begin until 1876, when
| he was married. His wife was Nine Cecile
| Papier Vaierius, widow Of Baron de
| Marshes. of Luxembourg. who had been one
of MunkacZy's best friends. She was beau
| tiful, wealthy, and intellectual.
| His pictures gave evidence of life sud
| denly brought into sunshine from gloom
At the next Salon he exhibited his Ar
| lists Studio In 1877 he exhibited another
| Hungarian picture but this time one OF
| jollity and humor. In the following year
| he astonshed the art world in Paris by his
| painting Milton Debating Paradise Lost. .
which shared With Hans Makart S Charles
| W. the lions share of attention. Before
| being transferred TO the Lenox Library. OF
| New York, for which it was purchased, il
| was placed upon exhibition in the Crystal
/ Palace, London, together with the THE
Artists Studio" and The Condemned.
Munkaczy received from the Austrian
government the Order of the Iron Cross and
| from the French government the Cross oi
| the Legion Of Honor. In Paris he had hosts
| of friends and his wife's salon. on the Ave-
nue. de yiIliers. was great attraction. In
| 1868 he visited the United States and re-
| ceived a hearty welcome.
| Among his more famous pictures. be-
sides those mentioned, We're The Night
| Prowlers,' The Two Families. Christ
Before Plate 1882. purchased by Mr..
John Wanamaker: Christ on Calvary.
| 1884; The Last Moments of Mozart,
1896; THE Allegory of the Italian Renais-
sance," a fresco, 1890; The Favorite Air, >
1891, and 'Eeoe Homo first exhibited in
Budapest, 1896
The Last Hours of Mozart, was fin
1 ished in 1855, and is now on exhibition in
| the Corcoran Art Gallery in the section
| devoted to the loan collection. 1t is own
ed by Secretary Alger, who about year
ago asked that ii be placed on exhibition
/ in the gallery.
| number Of Munkaczy's paintings are
| owned by wealthy New York people.
nyrDrE DrDrc1 DU rr A~rS