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Portrait of Gaspar Bekes

Adam Manyoki

Basic information

ID: Ж-4538
Author: Adam Manyoki
Name: Portrait of Gaspar Bekes
Country: Hungary
Technique: oil painting
Material: canvas oil
Dimensions (height x width, cm): 62.5 x 51

Additionally

Type: painting
Genre: portraiture
Exposition: Potocki Palace

Information about author

Author: Adam Manyoki
Artist's lifetime: 1673–1757
Country: Hungary
Biography: Adam Manyoki (1673–1757) was a Hungarian artist. He studied in Luneburg and Hamburg, later in Hanover and Paris. The artist received his education with the assistance of the German staff officer Dulfer. Manioki worked exclusively in the genre of portraiture, where he developed his style.

Object description

Gaspar Bekes (1520–1579) was a statesman and military leader of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, a close ally and supporter of Stephen Bathory. He was a descendant of an ancient Hungarian family. In Transylvania, Gaspar Bekes served as the treasurer and confidant of the Hungarian King Janos Zsigmond Szapolyai. Later, he became an ambassador to Istanbul, where he attempted to gain the support of Sultan Suleiman I. In the late 1560s, Bekes sided with the Habsburgs in their intention to conquer Transylvania. After the election of Stephen Bathory as the Prince of Transylvania in 1571, Bekes opposed him, hoping to take his place, but he was unsuccessful. He commanded Hungarian infantry and was recognised for exceptional bravery and military skills during the defence of Elblag in 1577 and the Polotsk campaign of 1579. At the request of the nobility of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, in 1579, Bekes was ennobled and granted lands, including the Grodno County. He passed away in Grodno on November 7, 1579. Gaspar Bekes was buried on Bald Hill in Vilnius. The hill later received the name "Bekes Hill". His portrait is done in the characteristic style of A. Manioka. The artist focused primarily on the face, adding an accent to the person's headwear of red colour.

Portrayed person