Debrecen4U
May 19, 2025
Golgotha Returns Home: Munkácsy Mihály’s Trilogy to be Displayed Together Again in Debrecen
The Museum of Fine Arts organised a grand exhibition to mark the 180th anniversary of the artist’s birth and the 125th anniversary of his passing. The Déri Museum has loaned the monumental artwork as part of the celebration. The Déri Museum is commemorating its return with a series of events.
Last November, Munkácsy Mihály’s painting Golgotha was carefully rolled onto a massive cylinder for transport. The 30-square-meter masterpiece was not easy to move—more than 20 Museum of Fine Arts experts were involved. In exchange, the Déri Museum received a half-size version of the monumental work. Thanks to Déri Frigyes, the preliminary study and a colourful compositional sketch were added to the Debrecen exhibition’s collection, offering visitors a fascinating journey into painting techniques over the past months.
“Visitors could understand how the artist enlarged his original smaller concept into a 460×712 cm masterpiece. The half-size version represented an intermediate state of the work,” Éva Fodor, curator of the fine arts collection, explained.
The museum celebrates Golgotha’s return on Friday with a special guided tour and commemorates its 95th anniversary over the weekend.
“We are celebrating the trilogy with a series of festivities, guided tours, and theatrical performances. The Déri Day, combined with Children’s Day, offers various programs, and visitors with a Debrecen Card can attend for free on Sunday (25 May),” János Angi, the museum director, ” emphasised.
Golgotha arrives back in Debrecen after restoration, following its display in Budapest’s “A World Success Story” exhibition, honouring Munkácsy’s 180th birth and 125th death anniversaries.
“For those who may not have heard, this marvellous trilogy found its home in Debrecen 30 years ago. I hope many visitors from Budapest will journey in the coming months to experience this reunion,” he highlighted.
There are also plans to restore Munkácsy’s Christ Before Pilate painting.
Source and photo credit: debrecen.hu
