Portrait of Sándor Petőfi

What it is

This oil painting of Sándor Petőfi was made by Orlai Petrich Soma, the poet's cousin and friend, who painted him from life. It shows a young man with a dark pompadour hairstyle, a curled mustache, dark jacket, white collar and red cravat.

Why it matters

Because it was painted by someone who knew Petőfi personally and worked directly from his appearance, this portrait became the image most widely used to represent the poet afterward, shaping how generations of Hungarians have pictured their national poet.

Look closer

• What choices did the painter make about pose, clothing and background, and what might they suggest about Petőfi's character?
• Why might a portrait by a close friend be treated as more reliable than one by a stranger?
• How does this painted image compare with the only surviving photograph of Petőfi?