Self Portrait of Istvan Ferenczy

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István Ferenczy, born on February 24, 1792, and passed away on July 4, 1856, was a pioneering Hungarian sculptor of the 19th century. He hailed from Rimaszombat, now known as Rimavská Sobota in Slovakia. Initially apprenticed to his father, a locksmith, Ferenczy went on to study copperplate engraving at the prestigious Vienna Academy, where he earned recognition for his exceptional medal "Solon". After mastering sculpture under Fischer and Kleiber's tutelage at the Academy in 1817, Ferenczy traveled to Rome in 1818, where he spent six years on a scholarship. During this time, he worked closely with Thorvaldsen, a renowned Danish artist, in his workshop. In 1819, Ferenczy showcased his artistic prowess by sending three of his works – "Reposing Venus", "Portrait of Csokonai", and "Shepherdess or the Beginning of Fine Crafts" – to Hungary. These pieces earned him several scholarships and paved the way for him to become Canova's pupil for two years. Ferenczy returned to Hungary in 1824, inspired by his progressive artistic education. By the 1830s, he had created numerous portraits ("Ürmélyi", "Rudnay", "Kazinczy"), tombs ("Kulcsár", "Szánthó", "Fornay"), and altarpieces ("The Blessed" in Vál, "The Martyrdom of St. Stephen" in Esztergom), as well as smaller memorials ("Károly Kisfalady" in Muzeumkert, Budapest). It was Ferenczy who discovered marble in Ruszicka, and his extensive travels and excavations came at a great personal cost. Despite these challenges, he completed the "Statue of Kölcsey", his magnum opus, in 1846. However, he retired from larger sculpture work from 1847 onwards, focusing instead on smaller projects such as the statue of "Eurydike" and clay statuettes. Ferenczy made a concerted effort to establish a school of sculpture in Hungary, with the goal of promoting national art. Although he ultimately failed to set up a sculptural school, many of his works remain in the Hungarian National Gallery as a testament to Hungarian art during the first half of the 19th century. Ferenczy's legacy continues to this day, and he died on July 4, 1856, in Rimaszombat.