Mihály Zichy: The Man Who Laid the Foundations of Georgian–Hungarian Relations

Everything started In the 19th century, modern Georgia was not an independent country as it is today. At that time, the region had been annexed by the Russian Empire. In 1801, the empire abolished the Georgian monarchy and deported members of the royal family, the Bagrationi dynasty, to different parts of the Russian Empire. The Bagrationi dynasty had ruled Georgian kingdoms for centuries, and this event marked the end of the Georgian monarchy in eastern Georgia.

However, the situation also created an interesting paradox. During the 19th century, the Russian Empire was strongly influenced by European culture. Russian emperors invited many European architects, painters, and intellectuals to work within the empire and contribute to its cultural life.

One of these artists was the Hungarian painter Mihály Zichy. He was born in 1827 in Hungary and moved to St. Petersburg in 1847. There he began working for the imperial court, first during the reign of Emperor Nicholas I and later serving as a court illustrator under Emperor Alexander II.

Zichy later received an order to illustrate works by the famous Russian poet Mikhail Lermontov, who had spent time in the Caucasus and in Tbilisi. In 1881 Zichy traveled to Georgia to experience the atmosphere of the region and prepare illustrations for Lermontov’s famous poem The Demon. However, the publishing project was eventually cancelled and the illustrations were never published as originally planned.

Despite this, Zichy remained in Tbilisi, and this unexpected turn led to one of the greatest achievements of his career. He became the illustrator of the masterpiece of Georgian literature, The Knight in the Panther’s Skin by Shota Rustaveli.

For Georgians, this epic poem holds a cultural importance comparable to the role of William Shakespeare in the United Kingdom. Zichy created 26 illustrations for a new edition of the poem, and Georgian society was astonished by the artistic quality of his work.

The renowned Georgian painter Lado Gudiashvili later described Zichy’s illustrations as one of the greatest visual interpretations ever created for Rustaveli’s poem.

Zichy himself developed a deep admiration for Georgia and its people. He once remarked that Georgians are remarkably generous:

“If you do something for them, they try to do even more in return.”

In gratitude, the Georgian people honored him. Today, a statue of Mihály Zichy stands in Alexander Garden in Tbilisi, very close to Rustaveli Avenue and Orbeliani Square — a lasting reminder of the cultural connection between Georgia and Hungary.

Statue of Mihály Zichy in Tbilisi

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1. Beno Gordeziani. Zichy in Georgia. 2nd edition. Tbilisi: “Soviet Georgia” Publishing House, 1966.

2. Guram Sharadze. Mihály Zichy and Georgian Culture. Tbilisi: “Khelovneba” (Art) Publishing House, 1978.

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