Csillagi, Lajos Pest, 25.12.1829. - 30.11.1903, Újpest

Painter, photographer.

His Fate exemplifies the fate of so-called mid-talented artists losers who are gradually losing their customers after the invention of photography.

1848: He was an artillery officer in the War of Independence. We don’t know about his studies, he has probably taught himself.

1861-1864: He set up at the Pest Art Association and then joined the Guard of Art Society.

1864: He has achieved success with the pictures of the Cherry-vendor Woman and the Female Study Head with Falcon.  In the same Year he painted the portrait of Augustine Kubinyi, which is now in the Historical Picture Gallery of the National Museum.

1868: the press was highly praised for his image of "Buy Grace!". He visited the country as wandering painter, and he was at least two times in Szeged. (1863 and 1870).

1877: A collection of nine portraits in the House of Arts Vienna was seen by a Russian thane, so he invited him to Russia. This year, he also represented himself with numerous paintings in the Kunsthalle in Pest, alongside his portraits, his works entitled Remembrance, East Rose, Female Fishmonger.

As a photographer, mainly portraits of light survived. He had photographer's studio in Arad, at Aczél Péter Street 2., which was opened in ca. 1880 under the name of Csillagi and Ruttkai. He had also a studio in Timisoara, and then in Újpest, at Fő Street 48., in his own house. We also know about the exterior of his studio in Újpest from drawings.

1877: Last appeared at the public exhibition in the Kunsthalle. He lived in Újpest at an older age, giving painter and drawing lessons.

His paintings:Georgian woman with a falcon. 1863, Folk Festivity. 1863, The Parents of Ignacné Eisenstadte. 1863, Bishop Antal Nákó.1866, Augustine Kubinyi. 1867, Lipót Löw Chief Rabbi of Szeged.1870

Literature:(news of his 5 paintings) Theater Telescope, 10^thJune 1863, Zoltán Szelesi: Fine Art of Szeged. Szeged, 1975, György Seregélyi: Data collection of Hungarian painters and graphic artists.Szeged, 1988. p. 116, Miklós-Sikes Csaba: Photographers and Studiosin Transylvania1839-1916. Study and document library.Székelyudvarhely, Haáz Rezső Foundation, 2001. p. 110-111.