Step into the dreamlike universe of William Blake and English Romantic painting this autumn in Budapest (Budapest). The Museum of Fine Arts (Szépművészeti Múzeum) invites visitors on a visionary journey filled with mythical creatures and radical imagination, all housed within the halls at 41 Dózsa György Avenue from October through November 2025. These guided tours reveal the secrets behind the era’s artwork and literature, offering the perfect introduction for newcomers and devoted fans alike.
The Solitary Genius
Few figures embody the myth of the misunderstood Romantic genius as thoroughly as William Blake. Working as an engraver in bustling London, Blake often invented printmaking and painting techniques late into the night. Part visionary, part revolutionary, he called himself a prophet who built bridges between spiritual and physical worlds, drawing inspiration from his radical political ideals, deep religious faith, and personal struggles. To this day, his works shimmer with both defiance and mysticism.
A Close-Up on Heaven and Hell
The museum’s exhibition borrows its title—and its spark of iconoclasm—from Blake’s The Marriage of Heaven and Hell (Menny és pokol házassága). Featuring works spanning painting, print, and poetry, guests are taken on a wild, imaginative journey through Romantic art and thought. Each tour lasts 60 minutes and is limited to an intimate group of 18, ensuring a close encounter with Blake’s hallucinatory visions.
Tours cost $4 per person plus entry, and visitors should arrive at least 20 minutes early. Using personalized tour-guide headsets (sanitized after each use), art lovers are encouraged to bring their own earphones if they prefer—just let the staff know in advance.
Special Guided Tours
On October 17 from 2:00 to 3:00 pm, Csilla Regős (the exhibition’s co-curator) and Ágnes Péter (Emeritus Professor of English and American Studies at Eötvös Loránd University) will take guests deeper into Blake’s extraordinary universe. Throughout October and November, a series of unconventional guided tours will feature guest experts—writers, artists, and aesthetes—who will share their personal connections to Blake. Their unique perspectives and stories promise to bring the phantasmagoria of British Romantic art to life and reveal how Blake’s influence resonates today.
Meet the Experts
The expert-led sessions are scheduled for October 22 (Zsófi László—art historian), October 29 (Dóra Lovass—esthetician), November 5 (Kitti Jakobovits—literature therapist), November 12 (Kata Bodor—art historian), November 19 (Anita Moskát—writer), and November 26 (László Győrffy—visual artist).
Visitor Info
Standard program tickets are $21, and discounted tickets are $12 for eligible visitors. All sessions take place at the Museum of Fine Arts (Szépművészeti Múzeum). Book your spot early and set aside at least an hour—along with a sense of wonder—for this once-in-a-lifetime artistic adventure.
