„Citrom, narancs s gránátalmával / Jóvoltodból szép kertem bő”
„My nice garden abounds with lemon, pomegranate and orange”

Luxury in 18th-Century Aristocratic Gardens in Hungary

Summary/Abstract: The aim of this paper is to analyse the 18th century half-length portrait of an unidentified woman of the Historical Picture Hall of the Hungarian National Museum ( fig. 2). Two elements of the portrait – an orange tree and a deer with green ribbon show the fashion of that age: planting orange trees and constructing orangeries spread in Hungary in the 18th century, one or more orangeries were established in many mansion parks and gardens. Exotic clothing, plants and animals often appear on the women’s portraits of the ancestors’ galleries. The orange tree refers to riches, as a parrot, a unique jewelry and clothing on other female portraits ( figg. 3–4). The female portraits with orange trees are not uncommon in English, German, French and US 17-18th-century portrait painting either ( figg. 5–7). The orange trees on portraits are symbol of luxury and of abundance in mythological context ( fig. 8). Orange trees can have also the symbolic meaning of fertility ( fig. 9). Many depictions of the orange can be associated to have children.

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