Updated November 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 15 works by Viktor Madarász in our catalogue
In short
Dobozi and his Spouse (1868) is the Viktor Madarász painting that draws the most eyes; the original belongs to the Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest. After it, the eye goes to The Exile's Dream (1856) and Felicián Zách (1858). Among the 15 works of Viktor Madarász in our catalog, these 14 are the most famous, each a unique original presented with its year, its museum and the reason it endures.
The canvas captures a moment of desperate velocity. A man and his wife gallop across a wide field, their horse appearing as a magic steed driven by the sheer force of their flight. They are fleeing from the approach of the Turks, and the realization of their inevitable capture has turned their flight into a final, terminal act. The composition utilizes a wide horizontal format, with the low line of…
In "The Exile's Dream" by Viktor Madarász, a vertical composition pulls the eye through a heavy, shadowed atmosphere. In the upper left, a luminous, ethereal figure with a haloed head emerges from the darkness. This apparition floats amidst the gloom, draped in bright white cloth that catches a celestial light. Below this vision, a soldier or knight rests in a state of profound exhaustion or sleep. He is slumped forward,…
In this 1870 work, Viktor Madarász turns his attention to Felicián Zách, a prominent 19th-century Hungarian writer and poet. The painting captures a moment of quiet significance, moving away from the broader historical struggles that often defined the artist's career. Madarász, a Hungarian painter recognized for his ability to render both intimate portraits and large-scale historical scenes, approaches this subject with a focused, personal touch. The scale of the canvas,…
This oil painting on canvas, executed in 1863, presents a bust-length portrait of the artist. The subject is positioned slightly off-center, facing the viewer with a steady, contemplative gaze. He wears a dark military uniform, characterized by structured epaulettes and buttons that provide geometric contrast to the organic lines of the human form. A decorative sash crosses the chest, catching the light against the darker tones of the attire. The…
In this somber oil painting, titled László Hunyadi on the Bier, the artist Viktor Madarász captures a moment of profound mourning. Created about 1859, the work depicts the grief surrounding the death of the son of János Hunyadi. It is a piece that carries significant weight, having been recognized with a medal at the 1861 Salon.
We are looking at Dózsa's People, a significant work by the Hungarian painter Viktor Madarász. This piece was executed in 1868. It is an oil on canvas, a medium that allows for the heavy, painterly textures seen in the rendering of skin and wood.
The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.
The museum that holds the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Viktor Madarász | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Hungarian National Gallery |
Budapest | 12 | Dobozi and his Spouse, The Exile's Dream, Felicián Zách |
Pick a decade to see the original that defines it.
In "The Exile's Dream" by Viktor Madarász, a vertical composition pulls the eye through a heavy, shadowed atmosphere. In the upper left, a luminous, ethereal figure with a haloed head emerges from the darkness. This apparition floats amidst the gloom, draped in bright white cloth that catches a celestial light. Below this vision, a soldier or knight rests in a state of profound exhaustion or sleep. He is slumped forward,…
The canvas captures a moment of desperate velocity. A man and his wife gallop across a wide field, their horse appearing as a magic steed driven by the sheer force of their flight. They are fleeing from the approach of the Turks, and the realization of their inevitable capture has turned their flight into a final, terminal act. The composition utilizes a wide horizontal format, with the low line of…
Dobozi and his Spouse (1868), Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest. The Exile's Dream (1856) and Felicián Zách (1858) come next.
38 years old: Dobozi and his Spouse dates from 1868, and Viktor Madarász was born in 1830.
Dobozi and his Spouse, The Exile's Dream, Felicián Zách, Self Portrait, László Hunyadi on the Bier, Dózsa's People, Miklós Zrínyi poet and general, Felicián Zách, Gábor Bethlen among his Scholars and His Wife. The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.
Our catalog holds 15 works by Viktor Madarász, dated from 1856 to 1873.
Mostly in Hungarian National Gallery (Budapest). The museum table above lists them all.
In 1850s: 6 of the 14 works on this page were made then, The Exile's Dream among them.
On this page, the earliest is The Exile's Dream (1856) and the latest Miklós Izsó (1873).
Man (4), People (2) and Shadows (2), across the 14 works on this page.
Oil On Canvas, for 6 of the 14 works on this page.
Dobozi and his Spouse, The Exile's Dream and Felicián Zách: the Hungarian National Gallery, Budapest holds 12 of the works on this page.
Born in 1830 in the small village of Csetnek, Viktor Madarász came from a family of once-noble descent that had fallen into poverty. His father, András, worked as an iron manufacturer and craftsman. The path laid out for him was one of law, leading him to study in Pozsony. However, the winds of change arrived with the Hungarian Revolution of 1848. Madarász left his studies behind to join the struggle for independence, serving first as a private soldier and later rising to the rank of Second Lieutenant. The defeat of the revolution and the subsequent surrender at Világos left him with deep scars. After a period in exile, he eventually returned to his family in Pécs.
This period of upheaval heavily influenced the themes he would later pursue on canvas. He did not merely paint history; he lived through its most turbulent chapters. His early training took him to the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna between 1853 and 1855, where he studied under Ferdinand Georg Waldmüller. Seeking broader horizons, he moved to Paris in 1856. There, he entered the studios of Léon Cogniet and was influenced by the works of Paul Delaroche. These years in France allowed him to bring a specific academic-romantic style back to his homeland.
Madarász became known for his ability to translate Hungarian historical struggles into dramatic visual narratives. He often focused on moments of profound grief or political tension, using the techniques of French Romanticism to reach his audience. His work frequently revisited the heroism and tragedies of the Hungarian people, particularly those resisting Habsburg rule.
Some of his notable works include:
The later years of his life were marked by professional hardship and personal loss. Upon returning to Hungary in 1870, he found that his French-influenced style was met with resistance from a public accustomed to different traditions. Following the harsh reception of his work, he made the difficult decision to retire from painting in 1873 to manage his father's business. This period of transition was not easy; by 1902, his business had gone bankrupt and was sold at auction.
In 1903, a spark of his former passion led him to attempt a return to art, focusing primarily on portraits. While these later works lacked the monumental scale of his earlier historical scenes, they represented a final effort to reclaim his identity as a painter. He lived in Budapest until his death in 1917, during the First World War, passing away at a time when much of his earlier glory had faded from the public eye.
