The portrait collection of the Counts Széchényi of Sárvár-Felsővidék: 1777–1924.

In 2024, we commemorate the 200th anniversary of the death of Festetics Julianna, from the Festetics family of Keszthely—the mother of István Széchenyi, “the Greatest Hungarian.” Her role in Hungarian history had a profound impact not only on her own era but also on subsequent generations.

The Széchényi family’s invaluable library in Keszthely contains countless documents—books, pamphlets, letters, and more—closely connected to this highly intelligent and cultured noblewoman, who also had a strong interest in sciences and the arts.

Among these, the most remarkable item is one of the family’s most prestigious and impressive pieces: an album published in 1924 by Festetics Julianna’s great-grandson, Count Viktor Széchényi (1871–1945), landowner and Lord Lieutenant of Fejér County, with his support and financial contribution.

In a letter dated January 1908, Count Viktor Széchényi wrote:

“Dear Relative,

Let us remember the ancestors!

The poet exclaims this not without reason. From the memory of the ancestors, we draw examples, guidance, and inspiration for the future.

Much of the history of the Széchényis is still unknown to us; our family tree already becomes obscure in the 16th century. Research so far has been sparse or very superficial. Yet the few newly acquired facts undeniably show that there is ample room for further study.

Recently, several Hungarian noble families have had their histories written. The Széchényis, whose story is a living part of the Hungarian nation’s struggles, cannot fall behind.

Let us explore the past and, intertwined with the present, record it for our descendants.”

Historian, archivist, and librarian László Bártfai Szabó (1880–1964) wrote the family history in three volumes, published in Budapest between 1911 and 1926. Meanwhile, this representative illustrated album was published in 1924.

The top corner of the cover features the Széchényi coat of arms surrounded by the family motto:

“Si deus pro nobis, quis contra nos!” — “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (From Romans 8:31; the Rákóczi family motto was the same.)

Inside the binding, another family motto appears:

“The Christian Hungarian noble is called to God, his homeland, and his king; obedient, pious, brave, and true of heart!”

The first part of the album presents the family through engraved portraits resembling photographs. It begins with Count Ferenc Széchényi and his wife Festetics Julianna, followed by their sons who reached adulthood—Lajos, Pál, and István—with their families and descendants. Some images also depict the estates and castles where they lived. Later generations are shown in actual photographs.

Photographs of the Széchényi sons’ families are distinguished with separate coloring along the edges and labeled in the top-right corner of the page with L (Lajos), P (Pál), and I (István).

Count Viktor Széchényi wrote:

“I also attach a family tree extending to the youngest generation, to inform future descendants. (…) Future generations, take example from the ancestors and strive to surpass them in personal and patriotic virtues!”

“How lifelike these features are, reflecting back such a great spirit!”

In 2024, we commemorate the 200th anniversary of the death of István Széchenyi’s mother, Julianna Festetics. Unfortunately, the Festetics Castle collection does not include a portrait of the countess, but a special portrait of her son is displayed in the exhibition. Although the statue of the elderly Széchenyi was created more than 30 years after Julianna Festetics’ death, the artwork recalls the union of the two historic families—the Széchényis and the Festetics—embodied in the statesman who carried forward the Festetics family’s dedication to serving the homeland through his mother.

Location and Display

The bronze bust of István Széchenyi is exhibited in the Green Salon of the Festetics Castle interior exhibition. The work originally belonged to the castle’s furnishings; archival photos from around 1940 show it placed on a desk in the grand library during the time of György III Festetics.

Artist: Hans Gasser (1817–1868)

The bronze bust was created by Austrian painter and sculptor Hans Gasser, as confirmed by the “HG” mark on the back of the sculpture. Gasser studied at the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts and in Munich. He gained recognition primarily as a sculptor, creating famous architectural sculptures as well as portrait works. He worked across many European cities and died in Pest. Among his pupils in Vienna were Miklós Izsó and the future sculptor Károly Lotz.

Creation of the Bust

The modeling of Széchenyi’s bust began in August 1858 in Döbling. After sculpting the face in clay, the final piece was executed in white marble, with several bronze copies made, including the one displayed in the castle. Széchenyi mentions Gasser’s visits in his diary: on November 29, 1859, only the artist’s name, and on March 8, 1860, a month before Széchenyi’s death, when Gasser made the final touches: “Madame Gasser visited to finish it.” Széchenyi’s wife persuaded him to allow Gasser to make a statue of him for the family.

During the first sitting, Széchényi’s physician Rudolf Gussmann recalled: “The count protested, questioning why a being, bored even with his own uniqueness, should be immortalized in clay and marble. The count did not sit but paced the room, the countess seated in half-shadow, watching. The count was restless, the artist restless, only the countess tried to calm everyone with gentle words. As if the count said: ‘Is it worth the effort to immortalize my fleeting life in clay and marble?’”

Related Works

A lithograph by Austrian painter Josef Kriehuber was made based on Gasser’s sculpture, considered one of the best depictions of Széchenyi in old age. A copy of this print is held in the Helikon Library collection (inscription: “after Gasser”).

Kriehuber was known for portraits of Deák Ferenc, Liszt Ferenc, Beethoven, Schubert, and numerous politicians and aristocrats. In 1860, Károly Werfer’s press published Kriehuber’s portrait based on Gasser’s sculpture and also issued a lithograph from Ludwig Angerer’s photograph of the statue; a copy is also in the Helikon Library.

Most old-age portraits of Széchenyi created after his death were based on Gasser’s sculpture. The bust is not only of high artistic quality but also of great historical importance, as it is the only authentic portrait made from a living model after 1848.

Festetics Julianna (1753-1824)

In 2024, we commemorate the 200th anniversary of Countess Julianna Festetics’ death.

“You forgot to write that, drawn by the Keszthely magnet, you left Keszthely later,” wrote Mária Cziráky, mother of Ferenc Széchényi, in a letter to her son on February 2, 1775. The “Keszthely magnet” mentioned here was the young Count’s sister-in-law, Julianna Festetics. The influence of this noblewoman on Ferenc Széchényi and her true character can be explored in the biography of Festetics Julianna.

Széchényi Ferencné Festetics Julianna

Family Background

Julianna Festetics was born on October 30, 1753, in Jablonca as the first child of Pál III Festetics and Julianna Bossányi. Among her younger siblings, György, born in 1755, later founded Europe’s first higher agricultural institution, the Georgikon, and organized the Helikon Celebrations, a key cultural series of the Hungarian Enlightenment. Her younger brother Imre, born in 1764, is considered the “grandfather of genetics,” having formulated fundamental genetic rules in 1819 through his observations of sheep traits.

The Young Julianna Festetics

As was common in aristocratic families, Julianna’s education relied heavily on her family background. Her father, Pál III Festetics, held increasingly important official positions in Vienna, while early childhood education was mainly overseen by her mother, Julianna Bossányi. After completing her basic studies, Julianna attended the Notre Dame de Sion convent school in Pozsony, where she graduated as a cultured young woman fluent in multiple languages, including German, English, French, and Italian.

Remarkable Marriages

At the age of 19, in 1772, Julianna married 21-year-old József Széchényi, eldest son of Zsigmond Széchényi and Mária Cziráky. The marriage was short and childless. On November 30, 1774, her young husband suffered a fatal hunting accident, leaving Julianna a widow at 21. By agreement with her late husband’s brother, Ferenc Széchényi (born 1754), she could live in the Horpács castle of the Széchényi family. Ferenc was not indifferent to his sister-in-law, as even his brother József had noticed. In his last letter dated October 19, 1774, he wrote: “…my wife was in the highest esteem before you, my brother. I too will now remain silent and stay in the affection of our family ties.”

Marriage to Ferenc Széchényi

It took three years before Julianna married Ferenc Széchényi. Initially, both families—the Festetics and the Széchényi—opposed the marriage due to the brother-in-law/sister-in-law relationship. Ferenc’s close friendship with Julianna’s brother, György I, supported the union from the start. The mutual attraction between Ferenc and Julianna proved stronger than the parents expected. With papal permission and the payment of 6,000 florins, the wedding was held on August 17, 1777, in Kópháza.

The marriage produced six children, five of whom survived into adulthood: György (1778, died in infancy), Lajos (1781), Franciska (1783), Zsófia (1788), Pál (1789), and István (1791), who would later become known as “the Greatest Hungarian.”

Ferenc Széchényi and Julianna Festetics shared a harmonious marriage. “For behold, I have such a spouse, whom I may rightly call a pearl of a wife, a precious good mother, and a wise housekeeper,” wrote Ferenc to a friend. Kazinczy Ferenc, visiting the family in Vienna, praised the couple and their dedication to raising their children in the Hungarian spirit.

Minerals and Stones in the Service of Science

Julianna Festetics was a worthy companion to her husband throughout their lives. She supported him during his official duties and stood by him in retirement, including during the later years of Emperor Joseph II. Notably, during the diplomatic trip to Naples in 1790–1791, Julianna used her Italian skills to assist her husband and the imperial house.

In 1802, Ferenc Széchényi requested royal permission to donate his scientific collection as a museum gift. On November 25 of that year, he donated his library of thousands of volumes and manuscripts to the Hungarian nation, establishing the National Széchényi Library and the Hungarian National Museum. Festetics Julianna had been collecting various minerals, plants, and stones, which she contributed to her husband’s collection, forming the basis of the later natural history museum. (Unfortunately, this collection was lost in the 1956 fire.)

Final Years

In the 1810s, the Széchényi couple lived a retired life but still received guests at their Vienna residence when possible. Despite health issues, their visitors noted the evident love and respect they had for each other.

Gróf Széchényi Ferenc

Ferenc Széchényi died on December 13, 1820, after a serious illness. Julianna mourned deeply, and her health declined in the following years. She spent summers at the Carlsbad spa in her last three years and assisted her children whenever possible. On December 28, 1823, she spoke for the last time with her youngest son, István. She encouraged him to avoid a political career, even though she was pleased he left the army.

Gróf Széchenyi István

Julianna Festetics passed away on January 20, 1824, in Vienna at the age of 71, before witnessing the political and patriotic achievements of her youngest son, István. She was laid to rest in the Széchényi family crypt in Nagycenk.

In 1817, the couple celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. On her mother’s birthday, their children presented her with an album. István Széchényi wrote a poem to his mother, calling her the best mother, and expressing her enduring influence:

“Amid fire and arms, you kept me with prayer,
You cared for me swiftly on my sickbed,
You taught me,
You advised me,
You planted in my heart the good from which I am and will be,
And whatever little I do for God and my homeland,
Is your work!”

Sources

• Fraknói Vilmos: Széchényi Ferencz, 1754–1820. Budapest, 1902. Link
• Hazai ’s Külföldi Tudósitások, February 7, 1824, pp. 81–82
• Hegyaljai Kiss Géza: Széchenyi István édesanyja. Új Idők, September 7, 1941, pp. 292–293
• Dr. Szabó Dezső: A herceg Festetics család története, 1928

Image Sources

• Johann Ender: Countess Ferencné Széchényi, Julianna Festetics (link)
• Young Festetics Julianna (link)
• Ferenc Széchényi and Festetics Julianna (link)
• Map of Naples, 1790s (link)
• Johann Ender: Count Ferenc Széchényi (link)
• Johann Ender: Count István Széchenyi (1818) (link)