The thematic unit named It gained a beautiful country through you... show crucial events during the Original Settlement and the Middle Ages, and also those centuries when Hungary was one of the most influential powers in Europe. Mihály Munkácsy's Original Settlement is in central position. It is the first time the audience have the chance to see this monumental painting that was originally intended to be placed in the Parliament Building. Gyula Benczúr's award winning composition The Baptising of Vajk , he finished by 1875 is also located in this room.
Most of the works of art are on display in hallways of floor two. Those locations that have been renewed and renovated present two topics. Positive events in the history of Hungary, named It cannot be that mind and strength..., whereas the most tragic events in Hungarian history are shown at the unit named "This is the country that your sires have shed their blood to claim..." quotes from the "Appeal". Among works of art about Ottoman wars are the nearly 4-meter Bertalan Székely workZrínyi Composition, and also some emblematic works such as the Self-sacrifice of Titusz Dugovics , Women of Eger, or the Discovery of the Body of Lajos II . The glory and tragedy of the Hunyadi family is shown in a separate unit, through representations of King Matthias and László Hunyadi.
The section It cannot be that mind and strength... is among the most spectacular units, focusing on great individuals of the Reformation Age. It is not very often that the portrait of István Széchenyi by Friedrich Amerling that usually hangs on the wall of the presidential office of the Academy of Sciences is shown to the public. In addition to that, a painting of the allegory of the Palatine József, also rarely on display, and Miklós Barabás? painting of the laying of the foundation stone of the Chain Bridge can be seen. Portraits of poets and composers, the authors of theAnthem and Appeal are also shown in this unit.
The third important unit consisting of archive material about some of the most important events regarding Hungarian history and culture is shown in another room. Among other, the Admont Codex, with laws by King Stephen, circa the 12th century, a collection of manuscript laws considering Transylvania by the Transylvanian Prince Ákos Barcsay, including the oldest recorded texts from the religious peace of Torda. The visitors can also see in this room Werbőczy?s code of law, the original manuscripts of the Austrian-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 signed by the king, the Constitution of 1949 signed by Mátyás Rákosi, the original manuscripts for the Anthem and theAppeal, as well as compositions by Ferenc Erkel and Béni Egressy.
The first wood cut map of Hungary is also in this room, as well as Miksa Hell?s map reconstruction from 1802 with locations Anonymous had written about earlier. Modern era is represented by Gyula Batthyány's historic composition: Fights of a Thousand Years. Nándor Lajos Varga's wood cut series from 1934-35 Hungary's Past is an excellent example of historic picture series popular between WWI and WWII. The series deal with Hungary's history from the middle ages to the era of Miklós Horthy.
