Aware of the fame of the accompanying artist's name and triumph, which took place previous exhibitions can be understood that such activities take place only in large cities and the world's cultural centers.

The exhibition was held by well-known collector and philanthropist philanthropist, owner of the majority of pictures painted by the great Munkáchi, a businessman, a citizen of the U.S. Paku Imre. We greatly appreciated thank Alik Park for organizing and conducting exhibitions, and also thank Imre Park for giving an interview for the magazine "World of the Carpathians"

Tell me please, Imre, why you are displaying a collection of paintings by Mihai Munkachi people around the world, and not keep these activities at home, how come most of the collectors?
Making the public display of paintings Munkáchi, I have multiple objectives.

First, I want to show those pictures, which were never before known to a wider audience, it is generally those works which are in private collections, and the audience could see them only in photos.

Secondly, my goal is to raise Munkácsy on that pedestal, from which he deserves

And, thirdly, my thought is that many mukachevtsy can reach the top in his life and Munkácsy is proof of that.

I also want to show that Munkachi was a famous painter in his lifetime, but also I would like to refute some of the views of art critics, who accuse Munkachi that he has used the marketing, so his name became so famous. I think that in fact the artist had talent, and that is why he managed during his lifetime to reach the peak of his career, it's no secret that he was the best-selling artist among his contemporaries. I want to cite one example that many may be shocked. Painting "Golgotha", which can be seen at the exhibition, and which is in my collection, was sold from the artist's studio, in 1886 for a record sum for those times 185 thousand dollars. The salary of the common people were at that time about 5 dollars.

Munkachi led a secular life in Paris, he had a palace in which he took well-known guests who came to him bankers, aristocrats, princes, his guests visited even Nicholas II. In his house he was holding room, where paintings were exhibited, and a lounge in one visit could accommodate 400 people, there were instances when he was at once 800 guests. Of course, the critics did not like it, and they are often accused him. But my opinion is that the pictures Munkachi bought only because of his talent.

Tell me please, Imre, as you have decided to start collecting paintings Munkachi?
I remember from my childhood, that we have in the house hung pictures of artists, one of which was the work Munkácsy. Went to America, I became a collector of more than initially out of patriotism. I liked Munkáchi, because he was my countryman, and besides that, he was an artist of world renown. Now all the pictures I have bought through auctions Christie's and Sotheby's, I go to auction houses in Budapest, London and New York. For example, I recently acquired a painting at auction Christie's in New York for 700 thousand U.S. dollars.

You said that the painting "Golgotha" is in your collection, this is one part of the famous triptych "Christ Before Pilate», «EccoHome» and "Golgotha", by the way, I personally saw the sketch of this painting in the Museum d'Orsay in Paris. It is interesting to know the history of the acquisition of the paintings you.
 
History is very interesting. This triptych of huge dimensions, virtually none of the houses are not able to accommodate and show the picture entirely. The triptych is in possession of Hungary, it can be seen in Debrecen museum. One part of "Golgotha" had belonged to a private person. The owner decided to sell the painting, and for this he decided to take her out of the country. Picture was to be sold through one of the auctions in New York. Many Hungarians were opposed to the painting left the territory of their country. Hungarian state began to actively raise money for the purchase of this work Munkachi. But, unfortunately, they were unable to collect such a huge sum of money, then I bought this painting, thus maintaining the national treasure of Hungary. Now the situation is on permanent display in Debrecen, it can be seen at the exhibition in Mukachevo.

There are some interesting facts from the history of this painting, one of the famous Austrian critics of the 19 th century, wrote "From the time of Rembrandt and his painting" Night Watch "Art is not created anything like this, just picture" Calvary "for the first time since the time of its release is a sensation" by the way, while it has seen more than 350 thousand people. As recognition of the artist, I want to tell one fact, when Munkácsy came to America, met him personally, President of the United States of America.

I have another question for you. He worries today many artists and art critics. Do you think that the modern artist should you be rich or all-whether it should remain poor? Can prosperity prevent talent?
 
I had also thought that the artist should be hungry in order to effectively work, but eventually came to the conclusion that all defines talent. If the artist meets the current needs of the buyer, he becomes rich. But if it works for the future, then fame will come after death. But, again I repeat, all this is possible only if there is talent.

What is the fate of the collection Munkácsy? Will the exhibition of his works in Mukachevo final, or you plan to continue exhibiting his paintings, and in which countries?
 
I received an invitation to show the exhibition in Kiev, and later as previously planned, will be Vienna, Paris and New York. Thus, the collection will see the whole world, and many will be convinced that the name Munkácsy in law has a place in world art history. "

by Veronica Braginskaya