DLA032-0113  Translation

Royal Hungarian Air Force Testing Station

Director

Dear Sir,

As Director of the Air Force Testing Station in Székesfehérvár, I am sending you this letter to request that you permit us to commission a copy of your portrait of His Highness Miklós Horthy de Nagybánya, Regent of Hungary [5684], a portrait currently owned by the nation and which has been chosen to become the supreme ornament of the premises of the newly redecorated Officers’ Mess on my Testing Station.

In order that a worthy painting be found for our Mess, the choice fell on this work of yours, as being outstanding among the many portraits that have thus far been painted of His Highness the Regent, outstanding in its own right, as a perfect and excellent work of art. It does not lie within our means to acquire such a work by your hand in the original form and – though far be it from me to praise the portrait to its own creator – we are determined that, because of its soaring quality, it should be this work, if not in the original then at least in the form of a copy, which must adorn our Mess.

In thus requesting to have the work copied, I feel bound to mention that, while the reproduction will be hung in our Mess and while that Mess will ensure a fitting environment for the work, suited to its grave subject matter, the work will not be brought before the public or exhibited in any other way, nor will any reproductions of it be made. Furthermore, taking intellectual copyright into account, as well as featuring the artist’s name, we will also ensure that the usual differences of dimension are complied with.

In this regard I am also happy to inform you that the copy will be painted by György Litkey, Vitéz,^[1] one of the ablest pupils of Mr Gyula Rudnay at the Budapest College of Fine Art.^[2] 

In light of the considerations which I have outlined above, I again ask you, honoured Sir, to grant us permission to have a copy made of this work, while at the same time assuring you that it will become the greatest ornament of our Mess, not only as an object in itself but because of the Maestro behind it.

In hope and anticipation of your favourable answer,

I remain,

with profound respects,

Székesfehérvár, 13th March 1931

László Háry, Vitéz

Director

Royal Hungarian Air Force Testing Station, Székesfehérvár

Székesfehérvár, / :Hungary:/ Aerodrome.

AH (translation)

18/11/2024

Pd’O (summary)

21/07/2008