07 works, Today, September 24th, is Saint Gerard Sagredo's day, his story illustrated #266

Johann Carl Loth (German, 1632–1698)Title:

The Assassination of Saint Gerard Sagredo

Oil on canvas

74.9 x 42.5 cm. (29.5 x 16.7 in.)

Abbey of Santa Giustina, Padua

Johann Carl Loth (1632 – 6 October 1698) was a German Baroque painter, born in Munich but active most of his life in Venice. He was the son and pupil of Johann Ulrich Loth (1590–1662) and was possibly influenced by Giovan Battista Langetti. He was commissioned to paint for the emperor Leopold I in Vienna. He worked together with Pietro Liberi in Venice, where he was during the years 1663-1698. His brother Franz Loth was also a painter in Venice and Germany. More on Johann Carl Loth

Gerard or Gerard Sagredo (23 April 977/1000 – 29 August 1046) was the first bishop of Csanád in the Kingdom of Hungary from around 1030 to his death. He was born in a Venetian noble family. After a serious illness, he was sent to the Benedictine San Giorgio Monastery at the age of five. He received excellent monastic education and also learnt grammar, music, philosophy and law.

Unknown artist

Saint Stefan, before 1930

I have no further description, at this time

He left Venice for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land around 1020, but a storm compelled him to break his journey near Istria. He decided to visit the Kingdom of Hungary. Maurus, bishop of Pécs, and Stephen I of Hungary convinced him not to continue his pilgrimage, emphasizing that Gerard's preachings could accelerate the conversion of the Hungarians. 

László Hegedűs, (1870–1911)

Saint Emeric of Hungary

Oil on canvas

Height: 75 cm (29.5 in); Width: 50 cm (19.6 in)

Private collection

László Hegedűs, (1870–1911), undertook studies with Simon Hollósy in Munich, in Vienna and at the Julian Academy in Paris, to finally become the pupil of Gyula Benczúr in his Master School. Took a study trip to Spain in 1899. He also signed the memorandum initiating the establishment of the artists colony of Szolnok, and was among the first to settle in the colony in 1902. Taught at the Hungarian Academy of Fine Arts from 1903. More on László Hegedűs

Gerard was made the tutor of the king's son and heir, Emeric. Before long, Gerard went to the Bakony Hills to live as a hermit near Bakonybél. 

A powerful chieftain, Ajtony, ruled the region near the rivers Tisza, Danube and Mureș in the early 11th century. He was baptised according to the "Greek rite" and settled "Greek" (or Eastern Orthodox) monks in his seat on the Mureș. After Ajtony began taxing the salt carried on the Mureș, Stephen I of Hungary sent the royal army against him under the command of Csanád, who had previously been Ajtony's commander. Csanád defeated and killed Ajtony whose domain was transformed into a county. Ajtony's seat was renamed for Csanád.

After the conquest of Ajtony's territory, Stephen I summoned Gerard and made him bishop of the newly established Diocese of Csanád. Gerard was consecrated bishopin 1030.  The king appointed twelve monks from the Benedictine monasteries in Hungary to accompany Gerard to his see. Seven of the twelve monks who could speak Hungarian were tasked with interpreting for Gerard among Ajtony's former subjects. The Greek monks who had arrived during Ajtony's rule were transferred from Csanád to a monastery newly established at Oroszlámos, and their former monastery was granted to the Benedictines.

Gerard and the Benedictine monks shared a house and he forbade them to leave it without his authorization. The monks were required to be present for the morning service and to wear monastic costume. Gerard continued to wear the habits of a hermit and spent days in solitude in the forests near his see.

The Long Life credits Gerard with the building of churches "for every city" in his diocese to serve the growing number of believers. Gerard regularly visited Stephen. 

Unknown artist

King Stephen at the funeral of his son, Saint Emeric

I have no further description, at this time

Károly Jakobey, (1826–1891)

Saint Emeric in Pannonhalma, circa 1875

Altar painting of the cemetery chapel in Páty

I have no further description, at this time

Károly Jakobey, ( Kula , 1826 . August 17 - Budapest , 1891 . July 14 ) was a Hungarian painter.

He studied at the First Hungarian Academy of Painting under Jakab Marastoni, then went to the Vienna Academy in 1845, and then to F. Waldmüller's free school. He moved to Pest around 1850, regularly appearing in the exhibitions of the Pest Art Association. His works include historical portraits, custom portraits, animal depictions, allegorical and landscape landscapes, still lifes, and folk and humorous-anecdotal works. He made countless altarpieces and murals for church orders, which further helped his reputation. He was one of the founding members of the National Hungarian Fine Arts Society , founded in 1861, until his death. More on Károly Jakobey

The succession plans of Emeric's father could never be fulfilled: on 2 September 1031, at age 24, Emeric was killed by a boar while hunting.

Stephen I died on 15 August 1038. His nephew, the Venetian Peter Orseolo mounted the throne, but he was dethroned in 1041. Peter's successor, Samuel Aba, had many lords executed. He visited Csanád, asking Gerard to put a crown on his head during the mass on Resurrection Sunday. He refused Aba, but the bishops who accompanied the king to Csanád, performed the coronation. Gerard went to the pulpit, declaring that the "sword of vengeance will descend" upon Aba's head in three years, because he had gained the kingdom by deceit. 

The Holy Roman Emperor, Henry III, invaded Hungary and defeated Aba in the Battle of Ménfő in 1044. Peter Orseolo was restored, but his rule was unpopular, because he favored his German and Italian retaineers.

Unknown artist

St. Gerard's martyrdom

I have no further description, at this time

Gerard's martyrdom took place on 24 September 1046, during the Vata pagan uprising. His co-martyrs were Bystrik and Buldus. There are various accounts of his death. An account claims that he was placed on a two-wheel cart, hauled to the hilltop and rolled down a hill of Buda, now named Gellert Hill, then still being alive at the bottom, was beaten to death. Other unverified tales report him as being put into a spiked barrel and rolled down the hill during a mass revolt of pagans.

Canonized in 1083, along with St. Stephen and St. Emeric, Gerard is currently one of the patron saints of Hungary. His feast day is 24 September. More on Gerard Sagredo

Unknown artist

Life of St Gerard, circa 1335

I have no further description, at this time

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