Csontváry Kosztka, Tivadar (1853-1919)

Csontváry Kosztka, Tivadar

PAINTER (HUNGARY)

BORN 5 Jul 1853, Kisszeben, Sáros County - DIED 20 Jun 1919, Budapest
GRAVE LOCATION Budapest: Kerepesi cemetery (34/2-1-14)

Tivadar Csontváry Kosztka was the son of the physician Dr. László Kosztka and Franciska Hajczelmajer. During his youth he spoke Slovak mixed with German. On 13 October 1880 he had a vision that told him that he would be the greatest painter in the world. He visited the Vatican galleries and other places and worked as an apothecary to finance further travels. From 1890 he visited Paris, Italy, Greece, North Africa and the Middle East. From 1894 he studied art in Munich. He continued his tudies at the private school of Simon Hollósy, in Karlsruhe and at the Académie Julien in Paris.

He painted his most important paintings between 1903 and 1909. He exhibited in Paris and other cities, but in Hungary he was seen as a mad painter and an eccentric because he was a vegetarian and a pacifist and he didn't drink or smoke. By some his style of painting was believed to be related to his mental difficulties. Due to his lack of success his productivity decreased after 1909.

He died in 1919 in Budapest. After his death, 42 of his works were found rolled up and were almost destroyed. They were bought by the architect Gedeon Gerlóczy who kept them in his apartment for fifty years. The Csontváry Museum in Pécs was named after him and houses many of his works.

Images

The grave of Tivadar Csontváry Kosztka at the Kerepesi cemetery in Budapest.
Picture by Androom (20 Aug 2006)