Pál Szinyei Merse (1845-1920). Hungarian painter and politician, who ranked among the best in Central Europe. His first important painting (Breakfast in Nature from 1873) was misunderstood by critics. After this failure, the artist devoted himself to politics for 20 years. However, he eventually returned to art and began to celebrate great success in large European cities (even with his painting The May Picnic). He developed a specific style of work with colour and light. He founded the first Hungarian Society of Modern Art and the Circle of Hungarian Impressionists. After his death, his students influenced the Hungarian art scene for a long time.