Pál Pátzay

Pál Pátzay (17 September 1896 – 14 September 1979)^[1] was a Hungarian sculptor who was named a deputy by a transitional Hungarian government in 1945.^[2][3] He made a statue memorializing Raoul Wallenberg's fight against Nazism, which was later removed then reinterpreted by the Soviets as medical science fighting disease.^[4]

Early career

Pátzay studied under Béla Radnai from 1912 to 1914. His studies were interrupted when he was expelled. In 1914 he spent a long time with the Ferenczy family in Nagybánya. In 1915 he joined the group led by Lajos Kassák. He designed a cover used on twelve of the magazine A Tett.^[5] In 1917 he exhibited his statues with Ede Bohacsek. He was arrested and put in prison for supporting the cultural directorate in the Hungarian Soviet Republic.^[6]

Works

A statue by Pál Pátzay in Budapest.

Memorial of 10th Hussar Regiment by Pál Pátzay in Székesfehérvár.

Pátzay went on a study trip to France in 1927, a trip financed by the publisher Andor Miklós. A year later, he moved to Rome on a scholarship of the Hungarian Academy in Rome. In 1931 he held an exhibition with Vilmos Aba-Novák. That same year he won the Franz Josef Medal for “Nurse”. In 1935 he began work on designing the tomb of Ernő Szőts, President of the Hungarian Radio. He completed the tomb two years later. Named “Wind on the Danube”, the tomb was erected on the promenade by the Danube. His statue “St. Stephen”, which was installed in the Hungarian Pavilion, was awarded the Grand Prix of the World Exhibition in Paris. He won another award in 1941, when he was awarded the Greguss Medal for his “Soldier Memorial” in Székesfehérvár.

Memorial to Raoul Wallenberg, by Pál Pátzay, which was removed by communist regime and restored on the 50th anniversary of its demolition (Budapest, District XIII, Szent István park)

In 1942 he was commissioned by Ernő Mihályfi to design the Pető Plaquette.^[6]