The Physiognomy of a Renaissance Ruler: Portraits and Descriptions of Matthias Corvinus, King of Hungary (1458¿1490)

This book analyses the textual and visual representations of King Matthias Corvinus in the context of Antique physiognomical theories, focusing mainly on those descriptions and portraits which were influenced by the lion¿s physiognomy. The last chapter deals with another group of Matthias' portraits, namely with the Attila-faun-like images. The analysis of Antique theories of physiognomy have contributed to a more exact interpretation of Matthias' portraits, while the physiognomical comparison has resulted a more shaded picture about his image and iconography, even in the case of the Attila-type likenesses, where we cannot study such clear-cut intentions. Due to this research, having taken into consideration the king¿s political intentions as well, we can place plausibly the leonine images of king Matthias among the Renaissance state-portraits. The examination of the sources has proved that the role of the humanist Galeotto Marzio must have been crucial in mediating the physiognomical theories towards the Buda court. It has been also demonstrated that in Galeotto's work physiognomy appears as an element of the theories related to good governance.

Enik¿ Békés (1972) studied art history and classical philology at the University ELTE, Budapest. Her fields of research are: the relation between Antique physiognomical theories and portraiture; Neo-Latin literature, especially the works of Galeotto Marzio. She is research fellow at the Academical Institute of Literary Studies in Budapest.