BROCKY, Károly

In Greek mythology, Triptolemus was the son of Celeus, king of Attica. He was born at Eleusis in Attica, and was cured in his youth of a severe illness by the care of Ceres, who had been invited into the house of Celeus, as she traveled over the country in quest of her daughter. Ceres instructed Triptolemus how to sow corn and make bread.

Brocky had a great interest in past artistic tradition as proven by this genre picture. It quotes suggestively the painting manner of the Dutch painters of the 17th century. It is almost like a companion piece of Gerard Terborch’ Woman Playing Lute (Gemäldegalerie, Kassel).

In the 1840s Brocky painted mainly portraits of women and children and scenes from the novels of Walter Scott. This painting depicts a scene from Walter Scott’s novel, The Bride of Lammermoor. The libretto of Gaetano Donizetti’s well-known opera was based on this novel.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 4 minutes):

Gaetano Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor, Act II, Sextet

Like many others painted in this period, this painting reflects the influences of the artist’s journey to Italy.

In the 1840s Brocky painted mainly portraits of women and children and scenes from the novels of Walter Scott.

This painting is one of the two surviving self-portraits from the last years of the artist. The self-portrait in red garment is a masterpiece in the series of 19th-century self-portraits.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 3 minutes):

Johannes Brahms: Hungarian Dance No 6

In the last period of his life the artist was interested in the representation of nudes within a mythological scene. These mythological compositions and half-nudes are the best pieces among the paintings created in his last five years.

Istv�n Medgyasszay, a merchant, and his family became the friend of the artist during his years in Vienna. He painted many portraits of the family members, especially those of the children.