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List of the 3 Most Famous Paintings by László Pataky
Updated October 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 5 works by László Pataky in our catalogue
Summary
The most widely known painting by László Pataky is Roosters on Horses (1880), in the collection of the Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava. The next entries are Cavalry Battle (1890) and Kuruci (1903). The catalogue documents 5 works by László Pataky; the 3 entries below are the best known, listed in rank order with date, holding museum and description.
1857 – 1912, Brad
Most works: Slovak National Gallery
László Pataky: the 10 principal paintings
László Pataky: holding museums
The 2 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by László Pataky | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Slovak National Gallery |
Bratislava | 2 | Roosters on Horses, Cavalry Battle |
| Ernest Zmeták Art Gallery | Nové Zámky | 1 | Kuruci |
László Pataky: principal painting of each decade
Works per decade
Select a decade to display its principal painting.
László Pataky's paintings: reference questions
Which painting by László Pataky is the most widely known?Display the answer
Roosters on Horses (1880), Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava. The following entries are Cavalry Battle (1890) and Kuruci (1903).
What was the age of László Pataky when Roosters on Horses was painted?Display the answer
23 years: László Pataky was born in 1857 and Roosters on Horses is dated 1880.
How many works by László Pataky are documented?Display the answer
The catalogue records 5 works by László Pataky, dated between 1880 and 1903.
Which museums hold the best-known paintings of László Pataky?Display the answer
Principally in Slovak National Gallery (Bratislava) and Ernest Zmeták Art Gallery (Nové Zámky). The museum table above gives the full distribution.
Which are the earliest and latest dated works by László Pataky on this list?Display the answer
The earliest dated work listed here is Roosters on Horses (1880); the latest is Kuruci (1903).
Which works by László Pataky are in the collection of the Slovak National Gallery?Display the answer
Roosters on Horses and Cavalry Battle are among the 2 works on this page in the collection of the Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava.
László Pataky: biographical notes
The paths through Munich and Paris
László Pataky began his training within the walls of the arts and crafts school in Budapest. His hands learned the fundamentals before he moved toward the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich after 1880, working under Karl von Piloty. This period of study was followed by years spent moving between Paris, Budapest, and Munich from 1883 to 1889. These travels brought different light and different ways of seeing into his practice.
In 1888, a scholarship for his painting The Messenger opened a door to the studio of Mihály Munkácsy. He worked alongside Munkácsy on the large-scale Hungarian Conquest intended for the Hungarian Parliament Building. After this heavy task was finished, he settled in Alvinc, returning to the landscapes of his home province.
Scenes from the rural landscape
His brush often rested on the quiet rhythms of country life. He focused on rural genre scenes, capturing the movement of horses and the weight of a harvest. Some of his canvases hold specific moments of labor or rest:
- Wildpferde in der ungarischen Puszta (1897)
- Hungarian horse-drawn carts at harvest time
- Flock of Sheep Returning Home (1895)
- Potato harvest
Beyond the canvas, he spent much of his time translating words into images. He provided illustrations for several novels, including works by Carmen Sylva, Gabriele D'Annunzio, and Géza Gárdonyi. His gouache drawings appeared regularly in magazines such as Vasárnapi Ujság, Új Idők, and Magyar Salon.
A lasting presence in the collections
The work of Pataky remains held in places like the Hungarian National Gallery. His career was marked by retrospective exhibitions, such as those organized by the Guild of St. George in 1913 and the Hall of Art in 1918. These gatherings allowed for a final look at his contributions to the depiction of Hungarian life before he passed away in Alvinc in 1912.