Raul Wallenberg – László Dombrovszky plaque project

May 22, 2015

Artists: János Sugár, Gábor Palotai

In a civic initiative honoring Raoul Wallenberg and László Dombrovszky, a commemorative plaque was unveiled on May 22 on the wall of the building at 26 Keleti Károly Street. The inscription on the metal plaque (in Hungarian and Swedish) reads: “In this building, Raoul Wallenberg sat as a model in 1944 for the painter László Dombrovszky, who created the only authentic portrait of him.”

In the autumn of 1944, Wallenberg sat as a model several times for László Dombrovszky, who painted here the only portrait of the Swedish diplomat considered artistically significant. The contrasting “drawing,” cut by laser from a 70×70 cm stainless steel plate, is the work of sculptor János Sugár, and simultaneously depicts the artist, the model, and the artwork in progress. The typographic design was created by graphic designer Gábor Palotai, who proposed the Esseltub typeface—originally designed for the Stockholm metro—for the inscription.

The painting is now kept in Gripsholm, Sweden, in the Swedish Royal Portrait Gallery. The artwork was donated to the collection by Raoul Wallenberg’s mother, Maj von Dardel. The plaque was unveiled by Niclas Trouvé, Sweden’s Ambassador to Hungary, and Zsolt Láng, Mayor of the 2nd District.

https://www.kozterkep.hu/25532/Wallenberg_Dombrovszky_emlektabla_Budapest_2015.html

Venue: public space, (1024 Budapest, Keleti Károly u. 26.)