Historic Hungarian cyclorama falling into disrepair

A famous Hungarian panoramic painting by Árpád Feszty entitled "The Arrival of Hungarians" (often called "Feszty Cyclorama") showing arrival of seven Magyar tribes in 896 AD to what is now Hungary, is falling into disrepair because of roof leaks, reports inforadio.hu.

The 1,800 square-meter circular painting is the vocal point of the Ópusztaszer National History Park (Ópusztaszeri Nemzeti Történeti Emlékpark), however the central building housing the painting has been in urgent need of repair for the past six years. Roof reconstruction was estimated at Ft 200 million (€800,000) in 2003 but not made since the historical museum could not afford it at the time. The building has been deteriorating ever since.

The painting was completed during the height of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire in 1892-4. Today, Hungarian and foreign tourists will wait hours to tour the impressive painting and the accompanying diorama, however the latter has already been damaged by water, said Miklós Szentkirályi, chairman of the Hungarian Chamber of Restorers.

Szentkirályi recommended repairs are made as soon as possible. The painting itself has been touched by water only at one spot but it is in constant danger, he said.

Meanwhile, the added moisture from the leaks combined with the warmth of the building increases the likelihood of mold.

Szentkirályi said if the roof is attacked by mold, which could happen at any time, the fungi could spread to the painting rapidly causing damage more invasive and destructive than the leakage itself.

If water damage and mold do not destroy it first, however, the painting could also be ruined in a large storm, Gábor Horváth, manager of the historical park told mult-kor.hu. He said in spring of 2007 that the roof was in urgent need of reparation and a major storm could demolish it completely.

At the end of September 2007, the local governments in the county decided to establish a foundation for the preservation of the painting and the development of the park, however, no repairs have been made yet.

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