171. Bertalan Székely (1835–1910), painter.

Autograph letter to the Hungarian Royal Ministry of Religion and Education about the restoration of the medieval statue "Olajfakert” (The Garden of Olives).
The painter was asked by the National Committee of Monuments to give an expert opinion on whether the statue on the exterior wall of the parish church of Besztercebánya should be painted. He suggests that after minor repairs it should only be painted in stone colour, as in his view the traces of paint are from the 18th century. He gives a detailed description of the procedures and materials he proposes. On a separately inserted sheet he sketched the statue’s surroundings with his concept for its arrangement, and he also attached a sample of the stone colour he recommended. The group of statues in the style of Veit Stoss is today known as the Getsemáni kert (Gethsemane Garden).
3 written pages. 
Dated: Besztercebánya, 30 September 1899.
 
Starting price: 120 000,-