Klára Lenz

Klára Lenz
Born (1924-06-30)30 June 1924
Budapest, Hungary
Died 16 February 2013(2013-02-16) (aged 88)
Madrid, Spain
Nationality Hungarian
Known for Gobelin tapestry

Klára Mária Hermina Lenz (born June 30, 1924 in BudapestMadrid, February 16, 2013) was a Hungarian Gobelin tapestry artist who emigrated to Venezuela during World War II, and in 1950 moved to Colombia. She was the wife of the Hungarian nobleman Endre Farkas de Boldogfa (1908-1994), Major of the General Staff of the Hungarian Armies during World War II.[1]

Biography

József Lenz and his wife Klára Topits, Klára's parents.

She was born in a wealthy Roman Catholic family in Budapest, in the former Kingdom of Hungary. Her ancestors can be traced back to the ancient Lenz family, which was ancient member of the Swiss Bourgeoisie of Lenzburg. A branch of that family moved to Hungary and lived for several centuries in Pressburg.[2] Klara (Clara) Lenz was born on June 30, 1924 in Budapest. Her father was József Lenz (1897-1965),[1] a wealthy Hungarian landowner, tradesman of exotic fruits, Hussar captain of the Royal Hungarian Army.[3] Klára Lenz's mother was Klara Topits (1901-1993), daughter of Alajos József Topits (1855–1926). Klára Lenz married on 21 of May 1942 to the Hungarian nobleman Endre Farkas de Boldogfa (1908-1994), Major of the General Staff of the Hungarian Armies during the Second World War. Klára gave birth to two children.

After completion of the Second World War, Hungary was invaded by the Soviet armies that fought against Nazi troops after a coup had taken control of the country. Thus, the situation became critical and uncertain, after which József Lenz chose to go with his family to Switzerland. After spending nearly two years in Zurich, the Lenz family moved to Venezuela, where they became naturalized citizens. Klara had started her career working in customer service for United Airlines and at various hotels. She also worked for several decades at the international airport in Bogotá when the family moved to Colombia.

The deep catholic artist met through her husband the Hungarian cardinal József Mindszenty, who traveled to Venezuela in 1975 and briefly to Columbia in the same month. Endre Farkas de Boldogfa, knew Mindszenty since his childhood. Endre invited Mindszenty to visit Venezuela and arranged also the trip to Columbia, were Klára and her family received the Hungarian Cardinal.[4]

Tapestries

Coat of arms of the Lenz family (embroidered by Klára)

Lenz has created over 100 tapestries while in Bogotá. A museum in Nyékládháza, in Hungary exhibits some of her tapestries as a greater exhibit on the Lenz family.[1]

Klara became very interested in the gods of indigenous cultures of Colombia, Peru, and Mexico, and she reproduced them in many of her works, as well as game animals, mythological animals and birds.

References

  • Matits, F. (1994). Clara Lenz works. Budapest, Hungary. The British Library.
  • Ruzsuik Vilmos: Mindszenty_utolso_lelkipasztori_utja
  • Archives of Zala county. XIII. 10. Farkas család iratai. 10. doboz 1991–1993 4. pallium 5. darab 3.Farkas Endréné Lenz Klára kárpótlási ügyben folytatott levelezése (21 oldal)

References

  1. 1 2 3 László, Alexander (16 October 2012). "The Peach Madonna Beginning (Az Őszibarackos Madonnával kezdődött)". Minalunk. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  2. Heinrich Kypke, Pastor Emeritus. Lenz Kronika. 1908
  3. Bene-Szabó: A magyar királyi honvéd huszár tisztikar 1938-45. (Jósa András Múzeum Kiadványai 52. Nyíregyháza
  4. ZML. XIII. 10. Farkas család iratai. 10. doboz 1945 4.pallium 7 darab 2.Lenz József magánlevelei 1946 (9 oldal)
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