Budapest’s Hidden Gem Art Museum

🍁 During my journey, I spent a few days passing through Budap…he Museum of Fine Arts. I wasn’t expecting much, but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it! 🍁 This museum has a very comprehensive (Western art) collection from an art history perspective, especially from the early Renaissance to the eighteenth century. While it can’t compare to the top museums in England, France, the US, or Italy, there are still some works by old masters that hold an important place in art history, and many of them are quite unique. Here are some of my surprises: 🍁 A painting I saw at a Sotheby’s London autumn auction preview: Van Dyck’s Portrait of Mary, Princess Royal and Princess of Orange. I was surprised to find that this museum was the buyer! It’s surprising that the public still has the opportunity to appreciate the work thanks to the institution’s collection. ❤ Seeing the original works of Rubens and Jacob Jordaens, which I had seen many times online, was the second surprise. Unexpectedly encountering a room full of El Greco paintings was the third surprise; and learning that this is the largest collection of El Greco outside of Spain (including two works from El Greco’s studio). 🍁 The museum itself is a work of art. Its Neoclassical architectural style features a grand facade and richly decorated art. After renovations were completed in 2018, it was reopened to the public, offering a viewing experience that is in no way inferior to other top-tier museums. 🍁 In addition to European art, the museum also has an extensive collection of ancient Egyptian art and ancient Greek and Roman art, which makes it unique among museums in Central and Eastern Europe. 🍁 The special exhibitions are also of high quality. Currently on display is a group exhibition of a Hungarian-American master photographer, about which I will write a separate note later. The museum map is not yet available in Chinese, but there is a Japanese version. There probably aren’t many Chinese tourists. However, when I left, I saw wave after wave of Chinese tour groups on Heroes’ Square. I recommend it to art lovers among them! #WesternArtHistory #DailyArtShare #Travel #Budapest #BudapestTravel #ArtMuseum #BudapestMuseumofFineArts #ElGreco #VanDyck