Count István Széchenyi (Friedrich von Amerling)

The painting was created by Friedrich von Amerling, a Viennese artist who was the most popular portraitist of the Austrian and Hungarian aristocracy in the Biedermeier period. Count István Széchenyi donated the full annual income of his estates to establish the Hungarian Society of Learning in 1825. The scientific society came into being in 1830 and Széchenyi tried to further it during the initial period of its existence.

The painting was commissioned by the brothers of the count, Lajos and Pál Széchényi who donated it to the Academy in 1836. Their donation letter articulated the wish that "even our grandchildren, when they look at the features of this painting, let them feel the most noble emotions! let them inspire to do the most beautiful deeds for the delight of their country and nation!" Several members of the society wished to hang the painting in the general meeting room despite a rule that banned the placement of the portraits of living persons there. Eventually the rule prevailed and the painting was placed in the library.[1]

The painting belongs to the type of monumental portraiture generally associated with royalty. At the time István Széchenyi was 45 years old and he reached the zenith of his career. He was a very wealthy landowner, a leading politician of the Habsburg monarchy, successful writer and reformer. Amerling placed him on the terrace of a fictional building with view to the landscape beyond. His feathered hat is on the balustrade, and he is seen holding one of his white gloves in his hand. He wears díszmagyar, the elaborate court dress of Hungarian aristocracy with a sword, medals on his chest and yellow boots.

• Hungarian Academy of Sciences - information provided on the permanent exhibition