Bertalan Székely was an outstanding figure of Hungarian painting in the 19th century: He was the main representative of national romanticism. His skill in fresco painting, his technical, theoretical and aesthetic learning made him one of the most educated masters of the era he lived in.

His studio in Szada, his home and yard host the arts centre named for him. The arts centre is the memorial place of Betralan Székely but also the premise of art education. It is a cultural habitat where exhibitions, theatre plays, concerts, workshops and a library welcomes the visitors. We are lucky that the garden around the Memorial Museum still exist. The garden full of botanical rarities surrounds the house and studio. The garden where artists often held friendly conversations became a cultic place.

For Betralan Székely, the garden is full of symbolic power. We know, he often sat under the cool breeze of the chestnut trees. But he often spent the time alone in the garden with undisturbed pondering and relaxing.

The trees were symbols of his identification with nature. It set off w kind of new joy painting in his life creating an honest picture series of Szada.

The postcard issued in 1985 on the 150th anniversary pictures the studio and the old trees, the location of creativity and relaxing. It summarizes the role of Szada in the life of Bertalan Székely.

Emese Révész, Arts Historian