Collector Pákh to sue over listing of “Golgotha”

Budapest, March 10 (MTI) – The Hungarian-American Imre Pákh will sue over the listing of a painting he owns that is on loan to the Déri Museum in Debrecen, in eastern Hungary, the art collector told MTI by telephone on Wednesday.

As long as the painting is listed under national protection, it will remain out of view of the public in Debrecen, Pákh said, speaking from New York. Pákh added that he has a permit from Hungary’s authority for the protection of national heritage to remove the painting from the museum, but he has no plans to do so.

Hungary’s authority for the protection of national heritage recently declared “Golgotha”, a monumental painting by the Hungarian master Mihály Munkácsy, a listed work of art, preventing its removal from the country without a permit and giving the state pre-emption rights for its purchase.

The declaration, which may not be appealed, was issued after Pákh contested the first declaration listing the “Golgotha” last year.