Marcell Nemes

Nemes' ancestors traded in wool and tobacco in Transylvania since the 1830s, expanding into the timber and coal trade and financial transactions by the end of the 19th century. Marcell Nemes Magyarized his name, and was appointed a Royal Hungarian Councillor in 1903 due to his economic success and was ennobled as a Nobleman of Janoshalma in 1910. He began collecting and trading art in the 1890s. In addititon to woven fabrics from the Renaissance, he collected furniture, sculptures and old paintings from the Dutch and Flemish 17th century, as well as paintings by his contemporaries, especially 19th century French painting from Eugène Delacroix to Vincent van Gogh. Nemes became one of the rediscoverers of El Greco by finding some of his paintings himself in Spain and adding them to his collection. His purchases were based on Julius Meier-Graefe's preliminary art-historical work and the assistance of Paris and Munich art dealers. For example, he purchased Greco's Immaculate Conception and a Carrying of the Cross in the 1911 exhibition of old Spanish art organized by August Liebmann Mayer at the Heinemann Gallery in Munich. Nemmes was an important art collector. Artworks from his collection were confiscated and socialized during the Hungarian Soviet Republic in 1919. They were exhibited in the Hall of Art from 14 June onwards.