LATKÓCZY, LAJOS (1821–1875)

Self-portrait, 1860s

oil on canvas, 122x90 cm; unmarked
Fine Arts Collection, Inv. No.: 53.32.1.

Lajos Latkóczy was a prominent Biedermeier portrait artist, who, having completed his legal studies, went on and trained himself in the Vienna Art School of Karl Rahl. In 1859, following his European study trip, he exhibited his portraits in Budapest, which were highly successful. In the 1860s, he settled in Miskolc, where he became the increasingly more prestigious town’s 'first noteworthy, professional artist, who can boast of having actual artistic merit'. This is how he was described by former museum director Andor Leszih, who covered Latkóczy’s work in his 1941 monograph, which provided an overview of the artworks created in Miskolc. Out of the forty artworks presented there, only the whereabouts of a few are known today. The artist’s self-portrait was donated to the museum by the widow of Benkár József in 1908. Latkóczy had quite the reputation in Miskolc. In 1933, the Association of Museum Patrons also donated one of his works to the museum. The Fine Arts Collection currently holds a total of seven paintings from him.
The self-portrait of the artist depicts a man pondering over the affairs of the world, doing so with a rather captivating directness. The composition is only a sword hilt away of resembling that of a Baroque period guard officer – yet, it also feels timeless and very approachable for the present day viewer, despite having been made a century and a half ago. The painting is without any markings, similar to his other works in the museum collection. All of his artworks have a very intimate tone and showcase his artistic intelligence.
The portraits of Latkóczy were very popular and considered to be full of character. The emphasis he put on the main characteristics of the models’ faces and the diligent execution of said features make his works memorable and appreciated by audiences to this day.
Based on the description of Gertrud Goda
(In: A Herman Ottó Múzeum Képtára. Edited by: Andrea Pirint. Miskolc, 2004. 30. Cat. no.: 20.)