<p>Károly Markó, the Elder (1793–1860), is one of the most well-known figures of nineteenth century Hungarian painting. He began his career when it was almost impossible to make a living as an artist in Hungary. Although he managed to attract the attention of Pest's most signifi cant patrons in the early 1820s, he continued his artistic activities abroad. He studied at the Academy of Arts in Vienna between 1822 and 1824, but left for Italy in 1834 after a few laborious years and remained there till the end of his life. He became a master and role model not only for his children who also became painters, or for other Hungarian artists working in Italy, but for many Austrian and Italian artists of his era, too.</p>
